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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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I 


m':' 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiques 


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^ 


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□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 


D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 
D 


n 


n 


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Cover  title  missing/ 

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D 


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Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu*  ci-dessous 

10X                             14X                             18X                             22X 

26X 

30X 

2 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

i 

■"'■'~~''*'^****»*j«iisi»*£««(iia^^ 


ire 

J6tails 
es  du 
modifier 
er  une 
filmage 


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The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
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conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  origlnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
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origlnaux  sont  filmis  en  commen9ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniftre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifle  "A  SUIVRE  ".  le 
symboie  V  signifle  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  suptrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  drolte, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'Images  nicessalre.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


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5<^'>.'\'A;;/\ 


X. 


/••tm-iZSiiu^i. 


URa-isa^a^iassaajSKa^ 


THE     OLD    BOOK 

AND 

THE    OLD    FAITH 


REVIEWED   IN  A 
SERIES   OF  LECTURES 


BY 


ROBERT  STUART  MacARTHUR 

PASTOR  CALVARY  BAPTIST  CHURCH,  NEW  YORK 


O  h>ly,  kclf  Book  o/Gtdt 
T^*rt  art  mo  mordt  likt  iktH*: 

Tht  toiut  that  angth  b<nv  to  hear 
Brtathe  through  tktu  lintt  divin*: 

Andcome.withlovt'itmHm*ledy, 
from  OaKingU  htart  to  minor 


New  York 
E.  B.  TREAT  AND  COMPANY 

*4i-243  West  23D  Street 
1900 


1 


TWO  COPIES  RBCBIVED. 

Library    fcf   Cornr«IH 
Office  0  f  th« 

b.o2-189n 

Regl*t*r  of  Cspyrlghtc. 


\ 


I 


4:^i^;ii.j 


:!opyngIit,  1899, 

By  E.  B.  Treat  &  Company, 

Treasury  Magazine  Press. 


(Mil 


3 


THE  BIBLE  AS-  LITERATURE  AND 
MUCH  MORE. 

By  Robert  Stuart  Mac  Arthur. 


3 
-  k 

(I 


:^ 


COHO  COP^» 


It  ,, 


,-^fVi^ 


PREFACE. 


'''he  substance  of  this  volume  was  delivered  by 
tk  author  on  consecutive  Sunday  evenings  to  his 
own  congregation.     The  recent  destructive  criti- 
cism of  the  Bible  suggested  the  timeliness  of  a 
series  of  constructive,  affirmative,  interpretative, 
and  so  alleviative  lectures  on  the  old  Book.     The 
aim  was  to  make  these  lectures  popular  in  form, 
fervent  in  utterance,  and  evangelistic  in  spirit.     It 
was  no  part  of  the  purpose  to  deal  in  mere  denun- 
ciation of  error,  but  rather  to  give  a  plain  enuncia- 
tion of  truth.     The  true  Church  wants  truth,  from 
whatever  quarter  it  comes  and  by  whatsoever  mes- 
senger it  is  brought ;  it  cares  neither  for  the  new 
theology  nor  the  old,  as  such,  but  it  wants  above  all 
else  the  true  theology,  whether  old  or  new.     These 
lectures  do  not  antagonize  ascertained  truth ;  but 
they  aim  to  put  men  on  their  guard,  lest  they  take 
the  ipse  dixit  of  some  interpreter  as  the  certain 
conclusion  of  the  highest  scholarship.     The  critics 


"*^«««WW^8Silr 


.  :iSmsii^lSiiSrs^mstmiiiiaas^iisi,*im},«s 


p!>^*^aS*sw^*ii'f»> 


i  PREFACE. 

of  one  generation  entirely  contradict  and  sometimes 
utterly  annihilate,  the  critics  of  a  preceding  gen- 
eration; and  they  themselves,  in  turn,  receive  like 
treatment  from  the  critics  of  a  succeeding  genera- 
tion. The  field  of  exegetical  inquiry  is  covered 
with  the  disjecta  membra  of  the  critics  of  earlier 
days.  Believers  in  established  doctrines  may  well 
posses',  their  souls  in  patience  until  the  critics  have 
completed  their  present,  and  apparently  pleasur- 
able, work  of  mutual  destruction. 

So  long  as  their  theories  of  interpretation  are 
mere  theories,  they  are  unworthy  of  our  serious 
opposition ;  should  they  become  established  truths, 
we  would  be  unworthy  of  ourselves  as  lovers  of 
truth  did  we  refuse  them  our  assent.     There  are 
"  fads  "  in  Scripture  interpretation  as  in  political 
discussions,   in   social   customs,   and   in   literary 
tastes.     It  is  quite  certain  that  the  pendulum  of 
religious  opinion  is  now  swinging  toward  a  simpler 
faith,  a  warmer  zeal,  and  a  constructive  interpreta- 
tion.    Many  in  all  our  churches  are  impatient  with 
the  microscopic  criticism  often  applied  to  the 
Bible  as  seen  in  the  wearisome  displays  of  divi- 
sional vagaries  indicated  by  letters  of  the  alphabet, 
or  by  colors  in  a  "Polychrome  Bible."     If  the 
plays  of  Shakespeare,  the  poems  of  Milton,  the 


I, 


«s« 


1  sometimes 
icding  gen- 
rcceive  like 
ing  genera- 
is  covered 
s  of  earlier 
es  may  well 
critics  have 
itly  pleasur- 

iretation  are 
our  serious 
ished  truths, 
as  lovers  of 
There  are 
i  in  political 
i   in  literary 
pendulum  of 
ard  a  simpler 
re  interpreta- 
(ipatient  with 
plied  to  the 
)lays  of  divi- 
the  alphabet, 
ble."     If  the 
■  Milton,  the 


PHeface.  ^ 

histories  by  Macaulay.  or  the  orations  of  Daniel 
Webster  were  subjected  to  similar  treatment,  it 
could  be  proved,  according  to  some  of  the  methods 
of  the  so-called  Higher  Criticism,  that  many  au- 
thors had  written  these  productions;  indeed,  the 
authors  and  their  works  would  be  made  inexpressi- 
bly ridiculous.     The  people  are  longing  for  pulpit 
teaching  that  is  definite,  affirmative,  and  authori- 
tative. 

It  is  certain  that  a  return  toward  the  older  view 
of  Bible  interpretation  is  perceptible  also  among 
great  scholars.     Professor  Sayce  has  recently  af- 
firmed that  the  spade  is  to  demolish  many  of  the 
conclusions  of  philology;    that  the  tablets  tend 
to  establish  the  traditional  view  of  the  historical 
trustworthiness  of  the  Old  Testament;   that  the 
Pentateuch  was  written  chiefly  by  Moses;  that  he 
has  come  to  disbelieve  in  the  later  views  of  the 
Pentateuch;  and  that  he  mistrusts  the  conclusions 
of  the  Higher  Critics.     Professor  Harnack  has  also 
uttered  his  protest  against  many  of  the  conclusions 
of  modern  Biblical  criticism  and  in  favor  of  the 
older  view.     Professor   Klustermann.   on   purely 
critical  grounds,  sharply  opposes  the  reconstruc 
tion  scheme  of  the  Pentateuch  made  by  Wellhau- 
sen  and  his  school.     He  regards  both  the  methods 


^S^^SmSi^»iiMJmmsissi^^^i^ji.^-^^si.^ 


lo  PREFACE. 

and  the  manners  of  Wellhausen  as  utterly  wrong. 
Verily  this  destruction  of  critics  by  critics  is  an 
interesting  conflict. 

The  old  Book  will  stand ;  "  the  grass  withereth, 
the  flower  fadeth,  but  the  word  of  our  God  shall 

stand  forever." 

R.  S.  MacArthur. 


Calvary  Study,  New  York, 
September  i,  i8gg. 


t 


ly  wrong, 
tics  is  an 


vithereth, 
God  shall 

lRTHUR. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER 
I 

II. 


Ill, 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 

X. 

XI. 

XII. 

XIII. 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVI. 


PAGE 

IS 


The  Divine  Revelation  of  the  Bible 
The   Assured    Genuineness   of    the 

Bible  ... 
The  Unique  Inspiration  of  the  Bible 
The  Definite  Design  of  the  Bible 
The  Inerrant  Teaching  of  the  Bible     05 
The  Peculiar  Authority  of  the  Bible  105 
The   Instructive    Reticence   of    the 
Bible  . 

•  •  , 

•  The   Compassionate    Spirit   of    the 
Bible  ... 

The    Progressive  Revelation  of  the 
Bible  . 

The  Artless  Harmony  of  the  Bible  *  177 
The  Remarkable  Unity  of  the  Bible  193 
The  Ancient  History  of  the  Bible  .  200 
Biographical  Honesty  of  the  Bible 
The  Matchless  Poetry  of  the  Bible  ' 
The  Aggressive  Mission  of  the  Bible 
The    Suggestive    Scientism   of   the 
Bible  . 


31 
49 
67 

8S 


121 
141 

177 


225 
239 


271 


fe^5:ji***te'^,,J5S*e3*.fJi,.SA,,(S;i^H,t,*,Rii,,>-,,s^,„ 


\  1  ' 


i'^'\ 


U 

CHAPTER 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXI. 
XXII. 

XXIII. 

XXIV 


CONTESTS. 

PAOB 

The  Artistic  Influence  of  the  Bible  .  293 
The  Musical  Inspiration  of  the  Bible  309 
The  Literary  Incitation  of  the  Bible  325 
The  Legislative  Dominance  of  the 

Bible  .         .         •         •  '  ^^ 

The  Domestic  Felicities  of  the  Bible  359 
The   Indestructible  Vitality  of   the 

Bible  .         .         •        •         •      .  •   ^^^ 
The   Irrefutable    Evidences   of    the 

.   395 

Bible  .      •  •         •         •  „., ,     ,,i 

The  Appropriate  Study  of  the  Bible  417 


PAOB 

Bible  .  293 
e  Bible  309 
5  Bible  325 
of  the 

.  341 
e  Bible  359 
of   the 

.   377 
of    the 

•  395 
le  Bible  4^7 


THE  DIVINE  REVELATION   OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


i^&^te/al'^s^-'S^^;  W**Saii^;... 


"si: 


m 


f\ 


;i« 


THE    OLD    BOOK. 


I. 

The  Divine  Revelation  of  the  Bible. 

It  is  confidently  affirmed  in  many  quarters  that 
the  Church  is  losing  its  hold  upon  large  classes  in 
the  community,  that  the  Bible  has  ceased  to  com- 
mand the  reverence  and  even  the  respect  of  the 
people,  and  that  religion  itself  is  no  longer  the 
potent  factor  which  once  it  was  in  human  thought 
and  life.     It  is  doubtless  true,  in  the  case  of  many 
who  make  these  assertions,  that  the  wish  is  father 
to  the  thought;  and  it  is  also  true  that  similar  as- 
sertions often  have  been  made  which  were  proved 
untrue  by  subsequent  events.     It  must   be  ad- 
mitted, however,  that  the  Sabbath  is  no  longer  re- 
garded with  the  sanctity  which  characterized  it  in 
former  generations.     The  early  part  of  the  day  is 
wellnigh   smothered   by  the  blanket-sheet    news- 
paper; later  portions  of  the  day  are  rolled  in  the 
dust  by  the  bicycle;  and  many  professedly  Chris- 
tian people  join  with  the  acknowledged  people  of 
the  world  in  spending  what  remains  of  the  day  in 


I  ; 


t:^kl^l^mt>^ami^mlii<M,^-ai.-i>r.j.. 


11!! 


!'.' 
'>  i 


1 6  r//E  OLD  book: 

social  festivities.     The  Continental  Sunday  has 
made  grievous  inroads  on  the  American  Sabbath; 
the  holy  day  has  largely  become  simply  a  holiday. 
It  is  not  difficult  to  account  for  the  indifference 
and  irreverence  which  characterize  Sunday  and  its 
services   in   recent  times.      For  this  deplorable 
result  the  unwise,  and  often  really  unscholarly. 
destructive  criticism  of  the  Bible  is  largely  respon- 
sible.    In  former  times  the  enemies  of  divme  reve- 
lation were  called  infidels;   now  they  are  called 
churchmen  of  various  creeds.     Formerly  they  stood 
outside  the  temple  of  truth  which  they  wished  to 
destroy;  now  they  stand  in  its  holy  places,  wear- 
ing its  honors  and  titles,  while  they  are  vigorously 
but  vainly  striving  to  undermine  its  eternal  foun- 
dations.    The  time  has  come  for  preachers  and 
all  evangelical  believers  to  speak  clearly,  strongly, 
loyally,  and  lovingly  in  affirmation  of  the  old  faith 
and  in  defence  of  the  old  Bible.     It  is  believed  that 
in  all  our  churches  there  are  many  men  and  women 
who  are  utterly  weary  of  the  indefiniteness  of  much 
of  the  pulpit  teaching  of  the  last  few  years.     It 
will  not  be  intelligently  denied  that  the  pulpit 
often  has  spoken  hesitantly,  vaguely,  and  apolo- 
getically; certainly  the  time  has  come  for  it  to 
speak  confidently,  affirmatively,  and  authoritatively. 
Revelation  is  the  act  or  process  of  reveahng  or 
disclosing  what  before  was  unknown,    The  word 
itself  is  profoundly  suggestive.     It  comes  from 
the  Latin  revelo,  which  is  made  up  of  re,  back. 


1 
1 
e 
t 
i( 
n 
h 

tv 
m 
th 
hi 


Ai 
Ge 
Tm 
a  s 
hoc 
tha 
nat 


'  I 


inday  has 

Sabbath ; 
a  holiday, 
^difference 
iay  and  its 
deplorable 
nscholarly, 
ely  respon- 
livine  reve- 

are  called 
yr  they  stood 
y  wished  to 
laces,  wear- 
e  vigorously 
ternal  foun- 
eachers  and 
ly,  strongly, 
the  old  faith 
jelieved  that 
1  and  women 
ness  of  much 
iw  years.     It 
it  the  pulpit 
,  and  apolo- 
me  for  it  to 
thoritatively. 
I  revealing  or 
\.    The  word 

comes  from 
)  of  re,  back, 


^/rms  HEyELATio^^  of  the  bible.  17 
and  vdum,^  veil.  In  revelation  God  draws  back 
the  veil  wh.ch  concealed  Him  from  men.  Our 
deepest  needs  cry  out  for  light  from  God.  Except 
help  come  from  God  other  than  that  which  we 
denve  from  the  light  of  nature,  we  shall  sink  into 
moral  man.ty.  if  not  into  despair.  We  joyously 
recogn^e  the  fact  that  nature  is  a  reveliion,    o 

nthV    "^T     T'^^^*'-"^^'^  beautifully  illustrated 

n    he  nineteenth  psalm     The  first  six  verses  of 

that  psalm  g,ve  us  a  statement  of  natural  religion  • 

begmnmg  at  the  seventh  verse  and  going  to  the 

"on  Vt  'f  ""^'  ^"^^'  -^  '^^  anlllustlt! 
tion  of  the  character  and  eflfect  of  revealed  rehV- 
•on;  and  m  the  last  verse  of  the  psalm  we  hive  a 
manifestation  of  experimental  religion.     We  thus 

PsTir^Tr  ""^''""'  -^  -^--tion  in  the 
psalm.  There  is  no  contradiction  whatever  be- 
tween these  three  forms  of  communicating  the 
mmd  of  God.  Nature  is  an  unwritten  Bibfe.  al 
the  Scriptures  are  a  written  Bible  Youn^  Jn 
h.s  "Night  Thoughts,'-  has  well  said  of  natuS^" 

T«  elder  Scripture,  writ  by  God's  own  hand.- 
Scripture  authentic  ;  uncorrupt  by  man. " 

And    Sir  Thomas   Browne,   as    quoted    by  Dr 

?w7Bibt""  h"""^'"^"  '"  ^'^  pamphlet.  ''The 
rwo  Bibles,    has  expressed  quaintly  and  forcibly 

a  similar  thought  when  he  says :  "There  are  two 

books  from  which  I  collect  my  divinity:  besides     ' 

nature  -  that  umversal  and   public  manuscript 


'%?^iit:,ifl'irrS«aafoTTr;sszrwT-'=r^  ^-^v-^T 


f 


%:, 


Hily 


l!it' 


6!  -. 


g  r//^   OLD  BOOK. 

God  of  the  world      It  is  po  ^^^.^.^^^ 

nature  can  never  answer;  -/  f  ^  ^^^^y^  not 
to  us  of  the  utn,c^  .mpor^ -  ,  Lie  dwarfed, 
answered,  our  moral  nature  ^  u  ^„,i 

3,.veUed    tr^mcate^^^^^^^^  How  can 

powers  will  ^e  restramed  ^      j^eness  for 

man  be  just  with  God  ?     Is  ther        ^  ^^.  _ 

•    >     !<;  there  power  anywhere  to  enaoic  u 

the  reverse?     Natural  r     %        .    ^^^  case  of  the 
these  profound  questions,     ^veninth 
questions  which  it  does  answer  we^^^^^^^^^^ 
confirmation  than  mature  herself  can  gjve 

ural  religion  often  ^^^l^^^X::'^  need  its 
conflicting  testimony;  ^.^^  3"^' T.  j^  j^  ^ost  de- 
voice  to  be  most  auth^ita-^^^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^, 
fective.     Greece,  in  all  the  glo  y  ^^.^  ^^ 


Hi 


"     We  err 

of  nature- 
honored  the 
jciating  the 

us  in  this 
ly  religious 
.  are  simply 

)le. 

I  the  light  of 

questions  are 

they  be  not 
ome  dwarfed, 
r  intellectual 
d.  How  can 
jrgiveness  for 
able  us  to  tri- 

the  universe? 
ng,  loving,  or 
ot  fully  answer 
the  case  of  the 

require  fuller 
m  give.  Nat- 
j  confusing  and 
lere  we  need  its 
e  it  is  most  de- 

of  her  art  and 
e  moral  evil  at 
er  life.  Rome, 
af  splendor,  was 
:orruption  which 


JJirLVJ-:  KEVELATIO.y  OF   TlfE  Ji/n/.F..        19 

swept  over  all  clas.ses  alike.     The  highest  know]- 
edge  possible  apart  from  a  divine  revelation  is 
painfully  imperfect,  if  it  be  not  grossly  corrupt 
Every  heathen  altar  in  ancient  days  and  in  modern 
times  tells  of  man's  need  of  a  divine  revelation 
There  is  nothing  at  once  more  pathetic  and  inspir- 
ing than  the  Apostle  Paul's  reference,  in  his  ser- 
mon on  Mars'  Hill,  to  the  altar  dedicated  "to  the 
unknown  god."     The  Greeks  had  lords  many,  but 
they  did  not  satisfy  the  aspirations  of  the  cultured 
minds  and  the  longings  of  the  aching  hearts  of 
that  remarkable  people.      In  Japan  to-day  may  be 
seen  an  idolatry  as  gross,  superstitious,  and  repul- 
sive as  that  among  the  nations  which  reputedly  are 
far  below  the  Japanese  in  intelligence  and  even  in 
morality.     Every  heathen   form  of  worship  is  a 
testimony  at  once  to  man's  need  of  divine  help,  to 
his  extreme  moral  depravity,  and  to  the  possibility 
of  his  rendering  worship  to  the  true  God.     There 
IS  evermore  in  the  heart  of  man  a  longing  after 
God,    perverted    though    it    invariably  becomes. 
Even  among  degraded  peoples  there  are  remnants 
of  the  nobility  of  their  nature  and  examples  of 
their  varied  aspirations  after  God.     God's  image 
though  defaced,  is   not  effaced.     Thus   the  most' 
advanced    heathen    nations,    in    their    idolatrous 
practices,  confess  their  ignorance    regarding  the 
profoundest  questions   of  time  and  eternity,  and 
their  need  of  a  divine  revelation. 


H*feU«lwM»t.^**iiW.s;'!iat*»«5=t»i^ -J.1.-V,-.--. 


20 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


» 
I 

■'! 


REVrXATlON    Is   TO    liE   EXPF.CTF.D. 

May  we  expect  help,  ligh,   and  W"'™-  _;;,'^/ 

Has  Jod  «hc.us.his  <'7P;-f;';«  t mU    moot 
and  will  He  fail  to  reveal  1  hmselt .'     v\  ui  1 

;;  continued  disappointment !     Are  onr  nobl  r 
ature,  false  to  then-selves  and  to  H™-";    A« 
not  our  aspirations  God's  inspirations?     May  we 
expect  God  to  draw  aside  the  veil  and  reveal  Htm- 
,T:I  a  lovins  rather  to  His  eonlessey  wand- 
inc  and  His  rebellious,  sorrowful,  and  helpless  chu 
dren  "    From  what  we  know  of  God  by  nature,  may 
te  not  expect  that  He  will  meet  the  deep  needs  of 
Ir Tntelleetual  and  moral  natures  by  thetr  appro- 
;  atesu  ply?     we  rejoice  in  the  fact  0,at  God  ha, 
made  Himself  partially  known  in  nature.     Of  th.s 
",A,awehavLlreadyseen,thePsalmis.ofIsrad 

Xg   in  the  nineteenth  psalm.     He  "eognued  the 
he?  that  the  heavens  declare  the  glory  of  God ,  he 

r  ual  y  affirmed  that  "an  undevout  astrono-"  . 
raid  •     The  heavens  are  far  more  eloquent  to  us 
To  day   with  all  our  discoveries  regard.ng  astro- 
no'm  caXdies,  than  they  could  possibly  have  W 
toTh    Psalraist.     Surely  God  who  has  spoken  and 

Vr.hns  sneaks  in  nature  will  speak  in  some 
wlr  f  rm  t;  a  marvellous  system  of  ittgemou, 
cotTvancTs  He  has  arranged  for  the  supply  of  our 
;;:carneeds.,  and  many  of  '^ese  arrangement 
lo4  anticipate  their  actual  use  by  us.  If  God  has 
Ts  met  *e  wants  of  our  lower  natures,  surely 


H-. 


1 1  r 


•i'^txc^ 


nn-rxE  Rr.rF.r.ATrox  of  rirr.  nrnLE, 


21 


ED. 

rom  'jod? 
r  Himself, 
U  He  mock 
our  nobler 
self  ?     Are 
?     May  we 
cvcal  Him- 
clly  wander- 
elpless  chil- 
nature,  may 
ecp  needs  of 
their  appro- 
that  God  has 
ire.     Of  this 
mist  of  Israel 
^cognized  the 
y  of  God ;  he 
astronomer  is 
;loquent  to  us 
;arding  astro- 
bly  have  been 
IS  spoken  and 
peak  in  some 
11  of  ingenious 
J  supply  of  our 
!  arrangements 
s.     If  God  has 
natures,  surely 


He  vv.ll  supply  the  deep  necessities  of  our  higher 
subl.mcr,  and  diviner  natures.     The  whole  realm 
of  nature  abounds  in  illustrations  which  aid  us  in 
chensh.ng  this  hope.     There  are  in  the  vegetable 
world  vvonderful  remedial  agents  for  the  ills  of  life 
There  ,s  m  plant  and  flower  a  recuperative,  restor- 
ative, curative  element.     The  bruised  plant  seeks 
US  riormal  condition  ;  the  broken  bone  puts  forth  re- 
markable  energy  to  recover  its  former  strength,  and 
the  lacerated  flesh  evokes  forces  and  adopts  proc- 
esses wh.ch  elicit  our  admiration,  in  the  effort  to 
recover  from  its  wounded  experience.     By  analogy 
we  reason  from  the  needs  and  helps  of  the  body  io 
the  h.gher  needs  of  our  souls,  and  to  the  source  of 
the.r  providential  supply.     There  is  reason  thus  to 
hope  for  a  restorative  element,  a  reparative  proc- 
ess, a  spiritual    medicament   somewhere   in   the 
pharmacy  of  nature,  somewhere  in  the  laboratory 
of  God.     The  thought  of  forbearance,  of  mercy,  of 
pardon  on  the  part  of  God.  is  anticipated  in    he 
creeds  even  of  enlightened  heathen  philosophers 
Hope  strives  to  inspire  life  even  in  the  saddest 

he.T*    .    u^°"'  '"'^  ^"P^  '''  •«  ^°"btful  whether 
heathen  faiths  could  escape  from  utter  collapse. 

f^om  r"  H      T  '  u"'  '"^^'^*  ^^^-^r.nc.  to  come 
from  God.     Hope  thus  struggles  against  doubt,  love 

be  God  that  m  due  time  He  came  with  the  voice 

tT'L^'^lT^'^^  '°"^  °^  redemption,  and  fill- 
ing earthly  hfe  with  heavenly  hope  and  joy' 


'^^WsS^^s^m^^^m^i^i^^ 


■5«n^M>S^iWB^ilit^^*^tI..  -. . , 


33 


THE  01  n  BOOK, 


il* 


;;iW. 


Ih 


'*i  I', 


Thk  Naturk  ok  Rkvki.ation. 
God  has  revealed  Himself.     The  Eternal   has 
spoken.     Divinity  has  been  clothed  m  humantty. 
The  living  God  has  made  Himself  known  to  hv.ng 
„,en      Miracles  have  attended  the  utterance  of  His 
Tice      They  ushered  in  the  epoch  of  revelation 
Is  represcited  by  Moses,  by  the  prophets,  and  by 
Christ      They  have  well  been  called  the  great  bell 
of  the  universe  which  calls  attention  to  Gods  ser- 
mon,  and  they  have  been  described  also  as     can- 
Ties  lit  before'the  dawn,  but  put  out  after  the  sun 
has  risen."     It  pleased  God  to  introduce  the  mi^ 
raculous  element  in  giving  the    "^P'^/  ^^^^^ 
to  men.  but  it  pleased  Him  also  to  hold  tha   mirac 
ulous  element  always  at  the  minimum.     It  is  the 
dory  of  life  that  God  has  appeared  among  men  m 
t  person  of  Jesus  Christ.     This  manifestation 
of  God  was  earth's  highest  honor;   it  was  also 
heavens  brightest  glory.     We  know  not  whe  her 
other  planets  have  inhabitants ;  but  we  cannot  con- 
ceive of  any  higher  honor  being  conferred  on  any 
part  of  God's  earth  than  that  God's  Son  should 
become  man  and  dwell  among  men  and  die  f^ 
„.en.     We  may  say  with  reverence  tha  GocUou Id 
not  help  making  a  revelation  of  Himself      Al  11.  e 
is  reveLory.     The  tone  of  the  voice  the  g  ance 
of  the  eye.  the  movement  of  the  hand  or  foot-these 
aeallre;elatoryof  culture  and  character.     God 
cannot  conceal  Himself  and  remain  God.     Part  of 


( 
r 

a 

0 

a 

r 
a< 

IT 

ti 

If 

ev 

fie 
pi 
br 
va 
po 
pU 


*■,  a:. 


:ernal  has 
humanity, 
rn  to  living 
,nce  of  His 

revelation 
Its,  and  by 
i  great  bell 
,  God's  ser- 
so  as  "  can- 
ter the  sun 
ice  the  mi- 
d  revelation 

that  mirac- 

It  is  the 

long  men  in 

lanifestation 

it  was  also 
not  whether 
;  cannot  con- 
jrred  on  any 

Soil  should 

and  die  for 
lat  God  could 
elf.  All  life 
:e,  the  glance 
3r  foot— these 
aracter.  God 
God.     Part  of 


Pnvxr  REVELATION  OF   THE  PlBrE.       n 

the  joy  Of  Hi»  ii/e  is  in  the  bcstowmentof  life  and 
blessu.g  upon  others.     All  true  life  is  multiplied 
byimpartation;    mi\  it   is  dwarfed  by  withhold- 
ment.     Should  God  cease  lo  give-it  is  said  with 
reverencc-~-f  le  would  cease  to  be  God.     The  Dead 
Sea  is  the  dead  sea  because  it  has  no  outlet,  visible 
or  invisible.     In  the  nature  of  the  case  it  can  have 
no  outlet,  as  it  is  the  lowest  body  of  water  on  the 
g  obe.      It  is  estimated  that  daily  six  million  tons 
of  water  fall  into  the  Dead  Sea;  and  all  of  this 
prodigious  quantity  of  water  is  carried  off  by  evap- 
oration.    Human  life,  and  perhaps  we  may  also 
reverently  add  divine  life,  would  become  stagnant 
and  moribund  did  it  cease  to  bestow  itself  upon 
others.     A  man  who  in  order  to  conceal  his  char- 
acter hides  himself  in  a  hermit's  cell,  by  that  act 
reveals  his  character  more  than  he  could  by  an 
active  life  among  his  fellow-men. 

God,  we  thus  see,  has  spoken  to  the  children  of 
men.     Can  we  put  implicit  faith  in  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures  as  a  divine  revelation.'     This  is  the  crucial 
question  of  the  theological  thinking  of  the  hour 
If  there  is  no  certainty  here,  there  is  dubiety 
everywhere.     The   Bible   at   this   point  is    now 
fiercely  attacked.     A  small  amount  of  talent  em- 
ployed in  destructive  criticism  will  attract  for  a 
bnef  period  a  greater  amount  of  attention  than  a 
vastly  greater  degree  of  talent  employed  in  ex- 
pounding Scripture,  and  in  comforting  God's  peo- 
ple with  its  blessed  truths.     VVe  may,  however,  be 


'^^iiiiefiSi^ii^miSiSiiafm^ 


24 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


1- 


in 
ii" 


sure  that  God  will  overrule  all  attacks  made  upon 
His  Word,  for  its  fuller  confirmation.  The  whole 
foundation  of  revealed  truth  will  thus  eventually 
appear  in  all  its  granitic  solidity.  The  present 
generation  of  destructive  critics  of  holy  Scripture 
will  soon  disappear  in  the  exegetical  and  theologi- 
cal limbo  in  which  their  predecessors  are  now  hid- 
den and  forgotten. 

The  Bible  God's  Revelation. 

The  Bible  is  God's  highest  and  fullest  revela- 
tion to  the  children  of  men.  The  Bible  means 
"  the  book. "  The  word  is  biblia,  the  plural  of  the 
Greek  word  biblion,  diminutive  from  biblos,  mean- 
ing book.  The  English  words  book  and  beech 
were  originally  one  and  the  same;  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  is  hoc,  a  book,  and  also  a  beech-tree. 
Beechen  tablets,  or  pieces  of  beech-bark,  probably 
formed  the  original  books  of  the  ancient  Saxon 
nations.  The  Latin  liber  meant  bark,  and  also 
book.  The  Greek  biblos  was  the  inner  bark  of 
the  papyrus,  and  so  meant  paper  or  book.  Once 
the  term  might  have  been  applied  to  a  dictionary 
or  to  any  other  book,  and  in  Chaucer  it  is  so  ap- 
plied : 

"  To  tellen  all  wold  passen  any  bible. 
That  owher  [anywhere]  is." 

It  is  a  wonderful  testimony  to  the  acknowledged 
value  of  the  Bible  as  the  Word  of  God  that  it  now 
has  appropriated  to  itself  this  title,  and  that  by 


II 


<i.! 


i\ 


DIVINE  REVELATIOX  OF   THE  BIBLE.        25 


ade  upon 
rhe  whole 
jventually 
le  present 
Scripture 
theologi- 
I  now  hid- 


1. 

jst  revela- 
ble  means 
Liral  of  the 
'loSf  mean- 
ind  beech 
le  Anglo- 
)eech-tree. 
;,  probably 
ent  Saxon 
,  and  also 
;r  bark  of 
ok.  Once 
dictionary 
is  so  ap- 


inowledged 
that  it  now 
nd  that  by 


common  consent  men  withhold  the  title  from  all 
other  books. 

The  Bible  is  not  simply  a  volume,  but  a  library. 
Every  age  produces  a  fresh  supply  of  books. 
Three  thousand  years  ago  Solomon  said:  "Of 
making  many  books  there  is  no  end. "  Were  he 
to  write  that  sentence  to-day,  he  would  give  it  in 
capital  letters.  Some  books  are  evil,  and  that 
continually;  others  are  like  "the  tree  of  life, 
which  bare  twelve  manner  of  fruits,  and  yielded 
her  fruit  every  month,  and  the  leaves  of  the  tree 
were  for  the  healing  of  the  .  nations. "  Milton 
wrote  a  great  truth  when  he  said :  "  Books  are 
not  absolutely  dead  things,  but  do  contain  a  prog- 
eny of  life  in  them,  to  be  as  active  as  that  soul 
was  whose  progeny  they  are;  nay,  they  do  pre- 
serve as  in  a  vial  the  purest  efficacy  and  extracts  of 
that  living  intellect  that  bred  them.  A  good  book 
is  the  precious  life-blood  of  a  master  spirit,  em- 
balmed and  treasured  up  on  purpose,  to  a  life  be- 
yond life."  The  Bible  is  unique  among  the  books 
of  the  world.  It  is  of  greater  antiquity  than  any 
other  volume.  It  is  also  more  widely  circulated 
than  any  other  book.  A  century  ago  it  was  trans- 
lated into  twenty  or  thirty  languages ;  but  to-day 
it  is  read  in  not  fewer  than  three  hundred  lan- 
guages or  dialects,  and  last  year  quite  five  million 
copies  were  printed  by  various  Bible  societies  and 
publishing  houses  in  different  parts  of  the  world. 
It  is  still  the  world's  most  popular  book.      It  has 


^•^-^i^^^^i'--  J'=rt^*».;*-*ti.iae.-.  «&.-;.; 


I'f 


26 


"■^i 


I'll 


hv;;*' 


Sift 
r  1  ,: 


U 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 

contains  hUtones  P^Ph^'^'^^  philosophie., 
p«,ms,  dramatic  ='="■'"'?■  ^"^""^.^^phic  forms 
sententious  proverbs,  and  the  "«'''^3'  „,. 
of  speech  known  in  the  prose  "^  P-^^.^/^^,„ 
erature  of  any  age  °"-«;>^- J:ra„d  the  New 

^^r:a   i^tre  Utter  aWUion    7.^^^^^^^^ 

^-•s  rLr  hLa::7r — „  hunted 

period  of  sixteen  1  ,      j  Marvellous 

years  was  "-P'^ JJ   .f::;^  ,,e  period  while 
advancement  in  the  worl  remarkable 

i.  was  in  progress  i   and  » jq  J,^^  ,,,,  „,. 

progress  """s  'he  to* '<         „,.  love-notes  of 
jestic  words  of  Genesis  to 

■""ttlove  this  book  in  every  fibre  of  o^na- 

-'-^-"\Ser;:tt::drofo"u 

leges,  and  «P^»' ^      ,       s„,t  lay  dying  in  his 
congregations^    Sir  Wa  e  y    _^^^  ^^  ^^^ 

dining-room  at  Abbottsior  ,  ^^.^ 

Tweed  which  he  so  7*  ">''^°-  ^^    ,„,    wm. 

•    u..,     Mr     Lockhart,    to    reau    w 
son-in-law,    Mr.     1^  ^  „  „^   ^ock- 

"''™".'rjt«  is  bnfo L  tlk,"  said  Sir  Walter. 
r-lXrrid'to  him  the  fourteenth  chapur 


I  warmest 
stensions, 
jrity.     It 
ind  other 
losophies, 
(hie  forms 
of  any  lit- 
sts  of  two 
.  the  New 
thirty-nine 
enty -seven 
in  all.     A 
m  hundred 
Marvellous 
>eriod  while 
remarkable 
the  first  ma- 
ove-notes  of 


DIVINE  REVELATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.       27 

of  John's  Gospel,  that  chapter  which  breathes  out 
the  very  air  of  heaven.     Sir  Walter  listened  with 
deep  interest  and  marked  devotion.     When  the 
reading  ended   he   said:    "Well,  this  is  a  great 
comfort.     I  have  followed  you  distinctly,  and  I 
feel  as  if  I  were  to  be  myself  again."     This  was 
the  testimony  of  him  who  had  contributed  so  many 
volumes  to  an  imperishable  literature,  regarding 
the  value  of  the  Word  of  God.     This  holy  book 
will  withstand  all  the  assaults  of  all  its  foes.     It 
will  go  on  conquering  and  to  conquer,  until  the 
kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  have  become  the  king- 
doms of  our  Lord  and  of  His  Christ.     Well  may 
we  say,    in   the  glowing  words  of  the  inspired 
Isaiah,  "The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth, 
but  the  word  of  our  God  shall  stand  forever. " 


re  of  our  na- 
od.     Let  us 
ts  of  our  col- 
■  schools   and 
dying  in  his 
r  out  on  the 
^e  asked  his 
ad    for    him. 
ed  Mr.  Lock- 
id  Sir  Walter, 
leenth  chapter 


,1,     1 


k : 


THE  ASSURED  GENUINENESS  OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


;»^*'*^%*is,nr*'tv.-'w« 


r 

I 

I 


'1  ■;• 

■i 


'I'i!  ^ 


111 ' 
1 


*  , 


.;,»M»»rw<i«««««*-' 


II. 

The  Assukeo  Genuineness  of  the  Bible, 

We  do  not  receive  the  books  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment simply  on  the  authority  of  fathers  or  coun- 
cils, but  on  the  evidence  which  led  them  to  accept 
these  writings  as  credible  and  inspired.      It  is  pos- 
sible to  show  the  genuineness  of  these  books  as 
truly  as  it  is  to  show  the  genuineness  of  the  poems 
of  Homer,  the  orations  of  Demosthenes,  the  Com- 
mentaries of  Caesar,  or  any  of  the  writings  of  an- 
cient or  modern  times.     We  ask  no  favors  for  the 
Word  of  God.     We  submit  it  to  all  appropriate 
tests  to  determine  its  genuineness  and  authenticity 
If  It  cannot  stand  these  tests,  it  will  perish-  if  it 
cannot  stand  these  tests,  it  ought  to  perish.     No 
book  has  been  subjected  to  tests  so  severe;  and 
no  book  has  so  successfully  responded  to  the  sever- 
est tests.     It  has  been  thrust  into  a  furnace  heated 
seven  times  hotter  than  it  was  ever  heated  for  any 
other  book,  and  it  has  come  forth  without  even  the 
smell  of  fire  upon  its  pages. 

Historical  Evidences. 
What  are  some  of  the  historical  evidences  in 
favor  of  the  genuineness  of  the  Word  of  God? 


i'^i^^^UtiB^'a-.  -  *  M  ™. 


m 


P  i-'- 


Tf/E   O/.n  POOK. 

We  give  especially  those  that  have  reference  to  the 
New  Testament,  because  the  New  T-tament  wnt^ 
ers  quote  frequently  from  the  books  of  the  Old 
Testament,  and  in  various  other  ways  give  it  their 
Testament.  ^    Qld  Testament  the 

re""f  JewXa^hors.  ancient  and  modern. 
Tf^Ts The  sacredness  of  the  books  which  n-  co- 
prise  our  Old  Testament  Scriptures.     The  o^des 

complete  version  in  any  ^-g^f  "^^^  f  ^^n^ 
drian  knownasthe  Septuagint,  280-1 50 B.C. -and 

^Samaritan  Pentateuch,  give  si-^-  -^JJ, 
More  and  more  is  the  scholarsnip  of  the  worM 
coming  to  believe  in  the  person  of  Homen     Diffi 
cuU  as  it  may  be  to  account  for  one  Homer,  it 
would  be  vastly  more  difficult  to  account  for  many 
Homers.     The' criticism  which  now  is  attempting 
"destroy  the  personality  of   Moses  has  va.ly 
attempted  to  destroy  the  personality  of  Home. 
It  has  also  tried  its  wits  upon  the  reality  and  per- 
sonality of  Shakespeare.     It  will  as  certainly  ex^ 
Tnd  it'elf  in  vain  upon  Moses  and  the  Pentateuch 
as  it  has  upon  Homer  and  the  Iliad,  and  Shake 
jsncare  and  his  dramas.  , 

'"^  .he  books  of  the  New  T-«men.  »v«.  the 
e.eep.ion„f  3  P«e. -.  -d  jn  «o^  o^  ^ » 
connected  form  m  the  latter  half  ol 
century.  This  collection  impl.es  that  th'^e  «r,t 
i^elong  had  an  existence  as  separate  books. 
Sr  orfgin  must  have  antedated  by  a  cons^er^ 
™e  period  the  time  when  they  appeared  as  a 


re( 
lia 
an( 

gr« 

nol 

the 

and 

the 

epii 

ind( 

com 

Mui 

the 

A.  ] 

date 

to  t 

presi 

Pete 

fragt 

as  th 

tolic 

tury 

apost 

the  c 

not  t( 

living 

In 

proba 

diedi 

of  the 


ypsT:p.«JWW--fP*ff-:---- 


)iu  _,_tm,trrf  i— —rr  — cft-afflia^wra' 


rence  to  the 
ament  wril- 
of  the  Old 
give  it  their 
stament  the 
ind  modern, 
ch  now  com- 
The  oldest 
■the  Alexan- 
50  B.C. — and 
ir  testimony. 
oi  the  world 
omer.     Diffi- 
ne  Homer,  it 
»unt  for  many 
is  attempting 
es  has  vainly 
ty  of  Homer, 
jality  and  per- 
i  certainly  ex- 
;he  Pentateuch 
d,  and  Shake- 

ment,  with  the 
I  more  or  less 
of  the  second 
that  these  writ- 
icparate  books. 
[  by  a  consider- 
appeared  as  a 


.tSSO'A'E/^   GF..VUfJVEJV£SS  OP   THE  niflLE,     ^ 

recognized  collection  of  sacred  writings.     TertuI- 

•an.  who  was  born  at  Carthage  about  150  or  Z 

and  who  d.ed  there  between  220  and  240,  the  firT 

great  wnter  of  Latin  Christianity,  and  one  of  the 

he  New  Testament  as  made  up  of  the  "  Gospels  " 

the  four  Gospels,  the  Acts,  i  Peter,  i  John  thirteen 
ep-stles  of  Paul,  and  the  book  of  keCela tion^h  : 
mdorsmg  twenty-one  books  of  the  twenty-seven 
compnsmg  our  New  Testament  Scriptures  The 
Muratonan  Canon  in  the  West,  and  'the  Pes  Jto 
A   H  T  "  'T^^'  ''^''"°"  °f  ^^^  East,  as  Dr.' 

date  of  irf    r  '""'''  °"*'  '^"'"^  ^  -"""O" 

to  th/f   r  .     °''  '^°'  *''^^"  ^^g^^'^^'-  witness 
to  the  fact  that  at  that  time  every  book  of  our 

present  New  Testament  with  the  exception  of" 

Peter  was  received  as  genuine.     The  Muratorian 

agrnent  describes  the  Gospels  of  Luke  and  Joh^ 

ohc  Fa  hers  m  the  first  half  of  the  second  cen 
tury  estify  that  these  books  were  written  by  the 
apostles    themselves.      It    is    thus    certain  Vat 
the  ong,n  must  go  back  to  the  first  century  if 
not^t^o  the  time  when  the  apostles  themselver^lre 

In  proof  of  this  statement,  Iren^us,  who  was 
probably  born  in  Asia  Minor  about  „s   and  who 

of  the  most  distinguished  authors  and  theologians 


u 


i  .:! 


34 


r//E  OLD  BOOK. 


of  the  early  Church,  quotes  the  four  gospels  by 
name.     He  quotes  about  four  hundred   passages 
from  the  four  gospels,  and  says :   "  Such  is  the 
certainty  in  respect  to  the  gospels  that  even  the 
heretics  bear  testimony  to  them."     It  is  also  cer- 
tain that  the  order  of  the  gospels  was  the  same 
then  as  now.     It  is  thus  evident  that  the  four  gos- 
pels were  written  during  the  last  sixty  years  of  the 
first  century  of  the  Christian  era.     Irenxus  was,  as 
is  well  known,  the  disciple  and  friend  of  I'olycarp, 
the  exact  dates  of  whose  birth  and  death  are  in 
doubt,  but  who  was  a  personal  acquaintance  of 
the  Apostle  John.     Thus  the  testimony  of  Ire- 
njEUS  is  virtuany  the  evidence  of  Polycarp,  whose 
testimony,  in  turn,  was  virtually  that  of  the  Apos- 
tle John.     Justin  Martyr,  the  first  Christian  apolo- 
gist whose  works   have  come  down  to  us,  who 
suffered  martyrdom  under  Marcus  Aurelius.  prob- 
ably in  i6s.  who  is  mentioned  for  the  firr.t  time 
byTatian  as  the  "most  wonderful  Justin,"   and 
who  is  quoted  by  TertuUian  as  the  "philosopher 
and  martyr,"  speaks  of  "  memoirs  of  Jesus  Christ '  ; 
he  also  used  the  term  "gospels,"  and  his  quota- 
tions are  evidently  citations  from  our  accepted  gos- 
pels.    Papias,  perhaps  born  70  or  75  and  who  died 
about  163,  whom  Irenaeus  calls  a  "  hearer  of  John, 
declares  that  Matthew  wrote  in  the  Hebrew  dialect 
the  "sacred  oracles,"— /«  %/«,-and  that  Mark, 
the  interpreter  of  Peter,  wrote  under  Peter's  direc- 
tion an  account  of  the  same  events  and  discourses. 


The 

of   I1 

Paul 

Igna 

80-1 

have 

quot< 

ment 

fouri 

of  Jc 

the  e; 

them! 

and  t 

the  n 

would 

these 

subje( 

H.  St 

Script 

ously 

"  Syst 

Reg 

Gospe 

tory  st 

Syrian, 

from  ti 

mony 

"Diat( 

the  fot 

the  goi 


I ,.,,,.,J..ll,.U.IH"".'™" 


ospels  by 

passages 
ch  is  the 

even  the 
i  also  cer- 

the  same 
e  four  gos- 
cars  of  the 
[2US  was,  as 
[  Tolycarp, 
ath  are  in 
lintance  of 
ny  of  Ire- 
:arp,  whose 
:  the  Apos- 
stian  apolo- 
to  us,  who 
elius,  prob- 
3  first  time 
jstin,"   and 
philosopher 
us  Christ " ; 
1  his  quota- 
ccepted  gos- 
nd  who  died 
erof  John," 
brew  dialect 

that  Mark, 
•eter's  direc- 
d  discourses. 


ASSURED   GENUINENESS  OF   THE  BIRLE.     3S 

The  apostolic  Fathers,  as  they  arc  called— Clement 
of  Rome,  supposed  to    be  the  fellow- laborer  of 
Paul,  and  mentioned  in  Phil.  iv.  3,  who  died  loi ; 
Ignatius  of  Antioch,  martyred  1 1 5,  and  Polycarp,' 
80-165— companions  and  friends  of  the  apostles, 
have  left  us  in  their  writings  over  one  hundred 
quotations  from   or  allusions  to  the  New  Testa- 
ment writings ;  and  among  these  every  book  except 
four  minor  epistles— 2  Peter,  Jude,  2  and  3  Epistles 
of  John— is  represented.     It  is  well  known  that 
the  early  churches  took  the  greatest  care  to  assure 
themselves  of  the  genuineness  of  these  writings, 
and  that  they  accepted  them  as  genuine  only  on 
the  most  conclusive  evidence  to  that  effect.     It 
would  be  easy  to  give  with  greater  fulness  of  detail 
these  evidences.     Those  who  wish  to  study  the 
subject  at  length  can  do  so  by  examining  Dr.  A. 
H.  Strong's  chapter  on  "  Positive  Proofs  that  the 
Scriptures  Are  a  Divine  Revelation,"  in  his  vari- 
ously learned  and  altogether  admirable  volume  on 
"  Systematic  Theology." 

Regarding  the  evidence  concerning  the  Fourth 
Gospel  and  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  satisfac- 
tory statements  are  not  wanting.  Tatian,  the  As- 
syrian, and  the  disciple  of  Justin,  repeatedly  quotes 
from  the  four  gospels.  He  also  composed  a  har- 
mony of  our  four  gospels,  which  he  named  the 
"  Diatessaron,"  meaning  the  Gospel  according  to 
the  four.  While  the  differences  in  style  between 
the  gospel  by  the  evangelist  John  and  the  Apoca- 


4    i 


V'li 


Mi 


iit>v 


s^ 


36 


7-///?   OLD  BOOK. 


lypsc  are  recognized,  those  differences  are  explic- 
able on  the  ground  of  John's  greater  familiarity 
with  Greek  when  the  gospel  was  written,  he  hav 
ing    formerly  had  a  better   knowledge   of  Ara- 
mrran.     The  points  of  similarity  between  the  two 
books  are  very  marked.     This  fact   is  observed 
in  the  common  use  of  the  titles  for  Christ,  "the 
Umb  of  God."  "the  Word  of  God,"  and  "the 
True,"  as  frequent  epithets  applied  to  our  Lord  in 
both  books.     The  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews  was  ac- 
cepted during  the  first  century  after  it  was  writ- 
ten.    To  this  fact  Clement  of  Rome,  Justin  Mar- 
tyr, and  the  Peshito  Version  bear  witness.     In  the 
Roman,  North  African,  and  some  other  churches, 
the  genuineness  of  this  book  was  doubted  for  two 
centuries.     It  was  believed  that  some  of  its  char- 
acteristics were  inconsistent  with  the  traditions  of 
a  Pauline  authorship.      But  this  conclusion  was  at 
most  merely  a  matter  of  opinion,  and  certainly  an 
opinion  not  based  on  very  firm  foundations.     At 
the  end  of  the  fourth  century  Jerome,  after  a  care- 
f  ul  review  of  all  the  evidence  accessible  in  the  case, 
decided  in  favor  of  the  earlier  opinion ;  Augustine 
followed  Jerome  in  this  opinion ;  so  did  also  the 
Third  Council  of  Carthage,  in  the  year  397.     The 
book  has  ever  since  held  its  place  in  the  list  of 
the  received  books  of  the  New  Testament.     Many 
students  of  the  late  Dr.  A.  C.  Kendrick  will  re- 
member his  interesting  and  learned  discussion  as 
to  the  authorship  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews. 


He 

it  \ 
Jev 
tur 
chi 
tioi 
so  1 
eve 
pro 
exc 

pet( 
nesi 
nig] 
this 
that 
whi 


0 

effoi 
men 

us  tl 

"cr3 

whic 

of  it 

dent 

tion; 

and 

the( 


I  are  explic- 
•  familiarity 
ten,  he  hav 
Ige   of  Ara- 
een  the  two 
IS  observed 
Christ,  "  the 
,"  and  "the 
I  our  Lord  in 
rews  was  ac- 
r  it  was  writ- 
Justin  Mar- 
riess.     In  the 
ler  churches, 
ibtcd  for  two 
e  of  its  char- 
!  traditions  of 
lusion  was  at 
1  certainly  an 
idations.     At 
!,  after  a  care- 
)le  in  the  case, 
n;  Augustine 
5  did  also  the 
:ar  397.     The 
in  the  list  of 
iment.     Many 
idrick  will  re- 
[  discussion  as 
the  Hebrews. 


ASSUA'KI)   CF.J^UrA/F.NES.S  OF    THE  BlliLF.     37 

He  with  some  others  was  disposed  to  believe  that 
it  was  written  by  Apollos,  who  was  an  Alexandrian 
Jew,  "a  learned  man,"  and  "mighty  in  the  Scrip- 
tures. "  But  even  granting  that  Apollos  was  its 
chief  author,  he  may  have  written  at  the  sugges- 
tion  and  under  the  direction  of  the  Apostle  Paul ; 
so  that  the  spirit  of  the  epistle  is  virtually  Pauline, 
even  though  Apollos  may  have  chiefly  assisted  in 
producing  this  great  work,  or  even  have  been  its 
exclusive  writer. 

Thus  we  have  these  ancient,  unprejudiced,  com- 
petent, and  learned  authors  in  favor  of  the  genuine- 
ness of  the  New  Testament  Scriptures.  It  is  well- 
nigh  impossible  to  account  for  the  unanimity  of 
this  competent  testimony  on  any  other  hypothesis 
than  that  of  the  genuineness  of  the  Scriptures  to 
which  the  testimony  is  borne. 

Rationalistic  Theories, 

One  characteristic  of  all  these  theories  is  the 
effort  entirely  to  eliminate  from  the  New  Testa- 
ment all  its  miraculous  elements.  Strauss  gave 
us  the  "  myth  theory,"  making  the  gospels  simply 
"  crystallizations  into  story  of  the  Messianic  ideas, 
which  had  for  several  generations  filled  the  minds 
of  imaginative  men  in  Palestine."  Careful  stu- 
dents clearly  see,  apart  from  all  other  considera- 
tions, that  the  time  between  the  death  of  Christ 
and  the  issuance  of  the  gospels  was  too  shor!:  for 
the  development  of  mythical  histories,  which  nee- 


38 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


essarily  are  the  growth  of  centuries.     It  is  also  to 
be  affirmed  that  the  first  century  was  not  a  credu- 
lous time.     We  know  well  that  Sadduceeism  had 
permeated  all  Jewish  thinking  and  general  reason- 
ing    We  know  that  even  among  the  disciples  there 
were  doubters  regarding  even    Christ's  resurrec- 
tion- there  were  doubters  then  that  there  might 
be  no  doubters  now.     The  disciples  were  really 
slow  to  believe  what  surpassed  their  comprehen- 
sion.    In  many  ways  the  gospels  run  counter  to 
the  Jewish  ideas  of  the  time.     The  Gospel  was  for 
all  nations;  the  Jews  taught  a  religion  which  was 
for  Jews  alone.     The  Gospel  proclaimed  a  suffering 
Messiah;  Judaism  gloried  in  the  hope  of  a  tem- 
poral monarch  and  a  triumphant  kingdom.     We 
know,  also,  that  the  apostles  were  sober,  thought- 
ful, judicial  men,  and  the  very  last  writers  likely 
to  be  the  propagators  of  mythical  statements  and 
groundless  fancies.     It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that 
the  man  wh^  could  invent  the  character  and  his- 
tory of  Christ  would  have  to  be  Christ  Himself. 
It  makes  a  less  severe  tax  upon  our  credulity  to 
believe  that  Christ  lived  and  died  and  rose,  as  is 
taught  in  the  gospels,  than  to  suppose  that  the 
evangelists  could  have  imagined  such  a  life,  death, 
and  resurrection. 

The  theory  of  Baur  has  been  called  the  "  ten- 
dency theory."  This  theory  makes  the  gospels 
originate  in  the  second  century.  It  affirms  that 
they  were  written  under  other  names,  for  the  pur- 


sons 
cons 
lines 


also  to 
I  credu- 
ism  had 

reason- 
es  there 
esurrec- 
e  might 
e  really 
tiprehen- 
lunter  to 
I  was  for 
hich  was 
suffering 
E  a  tem- 
)m.     We 
thought- 
;rs  likely 
ents  and 
)  say  that 

and  his- 
Himself. 
edulity  to 
ose,  as  is 

that  the 
ife,  death, 

the  "ten- 
le  gospels 
?irms  that 
ir  the  pur- 


ASSUHED  GENUmEN-ESS  OF  THE  BIBLE.     39 

pose    of    reconciling  opposing  opinions  between 
Gentiles  and  Jews,  both  of  whom  were  represented 
in  the  churches.     Literary  objections  to  this  the- 
ory are  numerous,  and  so  are  historical  and  doc- 
trinal objections;    but  the  moral  objection  is  ab- 
solutely conclusive.     This  theory  requires  us  to 
believe  that  faithful  disciples  of  Christ  in  the  sec- 
ond century  were  conscienceless  fabricators  of  a 
life  of  the  Lord,  while  claiming  that  they  were 
companions  of  the  pure  and  holy  Christ  whom  they 
describe.     Such  Jesuitical  impostors  as  these  per- 
sons would  be,  on  this  supposition,  is  utterly  in- 
consistent with  every  conception  of  honesty,  man- 
liness, honor,  and  Christianity.      It  has  been  wisely 
pointed  out  by  Dr.  Strong  that  Baur's  admission 
that  the  Epistles  to  the  Romans,  Galatians,  and 
Corinthians  were  written  by  Paul  in  the  first  cen- 
tury utterly  vitiates  his  elaborate  theory.     These 
epistles    clearly  testify   to  the  main   events  of 
Christ's  life,  and  thus  the  entire  theory  is  over- 
thrown by  its  own  author. 

We  have  also  the  "  romance  theory  "  of  Renan. 
This  theory  contradicts  that  of  Baur  in  essential 
particulars.  It  admits  a  basis  of  truth  in  the  gos- 
pels, and  it  holds  that  they  were  written  in  the 
first  century.  Thus  one  rationalistic  critic  de- 
stroys his  brother  rationalist.  Old-fashioned  be- 
lievers in  the  Gospel  may  preserve  their  souls  in 
patience  while  these  critics  are  lustily  engaged  in 
the  work  of  mutual  destruction.     We  can  calmly 


*^«^xtft; 


's^^^iiii,3X^rile.~- 


40 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


gaze  upon  the  disjecta  membra  of  the  critics,  re- 
joicing that  the  truth  is  not  imperilled  while  they 
are  destroying  one  another's  rationalistic  theories. 
Renan  affirms  that  the  events  of  Christ's  life  were 
so  sublimated  by  the  enthusiasm  of  His  disciples 
that  they  are  really  overlaid  with  "  pious  fraud," 
and  so  cannot  be  accepted  as  genuine.     He  makes 
the  gospels  historic  romances.     He  writes  with 
much  literary  beauty,  and  he  throws  the  charm 
of  his  rare  sentimental  glamour  over  his  pages. 
But  he  dares  deny  to  Christ  "sincerity  with  Him- 
self"; he  affirms  that  Christ  practised  "innocent 
artifice"  ;  he  attributes  to  the  gospels  many  char- 
acteristics which  are  as  imaginative  as  the  morality 
of  the  writers,  according  to  his  theory,  was  defec- 
tive.    He  grants  to  Christ  a  marvellous  sweetness 
of  character,  but  denies  Him  credit  for  honesty, 
and  he  also  robs  Him  of  His  divinity.     His  gush- 
ing language,  at  times,  when  speaking  of  Christ, 
must  be  most  distasteful  to  every  reverent  soul  so 
long  as  he  denies  Christ  not  only  the  glory  of 
His  divinity,  but  the  perfection  of  human  morality. 
He  attributes  a  romantic  enthusiasm  to  the  apos- 
tles, but  his  views  in  this  respect  are  conclusively 
contradicted  by  the  superiority  of  the  character  and 
by  the  holy  influence  of  the  lives  of  these  inspired 
writers.     His  theory  is  strangely  weak,  notwith- 
standing  that  it  possesses  a  sentimental  charm. 
It  utterly  fails  to  account  for  the  rapid  spread  of 
the  Gospel,  and  for  the  real  character  of  Christ 


and 

dent 

loya 

is  a1 

in  tl 

the  ; 

W 

New 

Sod 

only 

suffi( 

Scri] 

impe 

they 

is  ut 

their 

confi 

to  sh 

ideas 

their 

toth 

our  < 

that  i 

lan'i 

natur 

imagi 

one  < 

unive 

irresi 


s^ssss 


ics,  re- 
le  they 
leories. 
fe  were 
isciples 
fraud," 
;  makes 
:s  with 
:  charm 
;  pages. 
:h  Him- 
nnocent 
ny  char- 
Borality 
s  defec- 
veetness 
honesty, 
is  gush- 
'  Christ, 
:  soul  so 
glory  of 
morality. 
;he  apos- 
clusively 
acter  and 
!  inspired 
notwith- 
1  charm, 
spread  of 
of  Christ 


ASSURED  GENUINENESS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    4 1 

and  His  apostles.  Kenan's  power  is  already  deca- 
dent. Only  as  men  link  their  names  in  loving 
loyalty  and  genuine  reverence  with  the  name  that 
is  above  every  name,  can  they  themselves  share 
in  the  glory  of  the  immortality  which  belongs  to 
the  Son  of  God. 

We  have  already  seen  that  the  writers  of  the 
New    Testament    indorsed    the    Old   Testament. 
So  did  Christ.     He  loved  this  book.     It  was  His 
only  Bible.     He  never  criticised  it.     This  fact  is 
sufficient  to  command  our  approval  of  that  ancient 
Scripture.     The  writers  of  the  New   Testament 
imperilled  their  lives  in  support  of  the  testimony 
they  gave.     The  high  moral  tone  of  their  writings 
is  utterly  opposed  to  any  theory  of  dishonesty  in 
their  narratives.     Their  writings  are  also  mutually 
confirmatory,  there  being  just  enough  discrepancy 
to  show  the  absence  of  all  collusion.     The  moral 
ideas  of  these  writers  were  greatly  in  advance  of 
their  time,  and  their  writing  is  divinely  adapted 
to  the  wants  of  the  soul.     It  addresses  all  parts  of 
our  complex  nature.     It  has  been  well  remarked 
that  in  the  Scriptures  we  have  law  and  epistles  for 
lan's  reason,  psalms  and  gospels  for  his  affectional 
nature,  and  prophecies  and  revelation  for  his  lofty 
imagination.     This  element  in  sacred  Scripture  is 
one  of  the  reasons  for  its  remarkable  charm,  its 
universal  appropriateness,  and  its  continuous  and 
irresistible  power. 


!i.'^?i\i,5»  St^^::!  '-^i^  ^':^^^::Tt 


43 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Additional  Evidence. 


The  Bible  itself  is  in  many  respects  more  won- 
derful than  anything  it  contains.     It  has  lived 
amid  falling  civilizations,  opposing   nationalities, 
and  bitterest  hostilities  of  every  sort.     It  never 
was  really  a  mightier  power  than  it  is  at  this  hour 
It  is  endowed  with  an  immortal  youth,  a  universal 
adaptability,  and  a  resistless  fascinatioa     It  car- 
ries on  its  own  pages  evidences  of  its  own  genuine- 
ness     Forgeries  are  usually  clumsy  productions. 
The  work  which  professed  to  be  the  epistles  of 
Phalaris,  a  tyrant  of  Agrigentum  in  Sicily,  who 
lived  about  the  middle  of  the  sixth  century  B.C., 
and  to  be  written  to  two  of  his  contemporaries, 
was  for  a  time  generally  accepted  as  genuine.     But 
Richrxd  Bentley,  a  distinguished  classical  scholar 
applied  to  these  epistles  the  modern  methods  of 
historical  criticism,  and  they  were  soon  conclusively 
proved  to  be  base  forgeries  of  at  least  eight  cen- 
turies later.     It  was  in  1690  that  he  published 
his  "Dissertation  upon  the  Epistles  of  Phalaris. 
This  work  established  his  reputation  throughout 
Europe;  and  in  his  employment  of  the  principles 
of  historical  criticism  which  until  then  were  prac 
tically  unknown,  he  filled  the  learned  world  with 
astonishment  and  created  a  new  era  in  scholar- 
ship.    Cicero  calls  Phalaris  the  "  most  cruel  of  all 
tyrants"  ;  but  he  nevertheless  was  fond  of  litera- 
ture and  philosophy,  and  was  a  patron  of  learned 


men 

attei 

easil 

Test 

betn 

curn 

char: 

that 

Cop3 

and 

wrou 

and  1 

belie 

know 

are  p 

goats 

matei 

deter 

that  1 

paper 

then : 

printi 

cottoi 

began 

disser 

script 

multi] 

We 

that  t; 

ing  th 


'**^«-^ 


)re  won- 
is  lived 
nalities, 
[t  never 
lis  hour, 
iniversal 
It  car- 
genuine- 
luctions. 
jistles  of 
;ily,  who 
tury  B.C., 
iporaries, 
ne.     But 
1  scholar, 
ethods  of 
iclusively 
ight  cen- 
published 
Phalaris." 
iroughout 
principles 
were  prac- 
vorld  with 
n  scholar- 
Tuel  of  all 
of  litera- 
of  learned 


ASSURED  GENUWEATESS  OF  THE  BIBLE.    43 

men.     Imitations  of  books  of  the  Bible  have  been 
attempted,  but  in  every  case  the  forgeries  were 
easily  detected.     Were  the   books   of  the  New 
Testament  forgeries,  they  would  long  ago   have 
betrayed  themselves.     They  abound  in  allusions  to 
current  events,  to  popular  customs,  and  to  public 
characters,  and  if  these  references  were  inaccurate 
that  fact  would  have  been  discovered  speedily. 
Copying  these  ancient  manuscripts  was  an  honored 
and  even  sacred  employment,  and  many  copyists 
wrought  out  of  love  for  the  Word  of  God.     Princes 
and  nobles  as  well  as  high  ecclesiastics  and  lowly 
believers  earnestly  engaged   in    this  work.     We 
know  that  the  manuscripts  of  the  first  five  centuries 
are  parchments,  made  from  the  skin  of  sheep  and 
goats.     When  we  discover  a  manuscript  on  this 
material,  we  are  able,   approximately  at  least,  to 
determine  the  date  of  the  writing.     We  know  also 
that  manuscripts  of  a  few  centuries  later  were  of 
paper  prepared  from  the  Egyptian  papyrus,  and 
then  from  the  tenth  century  to  the  introduction  of 
printing  they  were  of  paper  manufactured  from 
cotton.     In  the  fifteenth  century  the  printing-press 
began  its  work.     Then  a  new  era  dawned  for  the 
dissemination  of  the  Word  of  God;    then  manu- 
scripts were  eagerly  sought,  and  then  printing 
multiplied  books  with  the  utmost  rapidity. 

We  know  also,  as  we  have  already  partially  seen, 
that  the  early  versions  are  another  means  of  test- 
ing the  genuineness  of  these  books.     The  Septua- 


'«^a^j. 


.<^MS$iS^ssfs;smims!mmsu^seia  <a.,»i-w^ 


■'  -..J^rii-  •J-f...-AA-J  -  'J.-til  _■  -..xJ  4" 


44 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


gint  was  widely  read  in  the  synagogues  of  the  Jews. 
It  is  referred  to  by  different  heathen  authors.     The 
Syriac  Version,  executed  probably  in  the  first  cen- 
tury, the  old  Latin,  Jerome's  Version,  called  the 
Vulgate,  executed  from  about  385  to  405,  and  other 
versions  of  later  date — all  these  testify  to  the  an- 
cientness,  genuineness,  and  authority  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures.     They  show  that  in  the  first  century 
of  the  Christian  era,  and  in  the  case  of  the  Old 
Testament  two   centuries    earlier,  there  existed 
books   which   were  widely  known  as  the  sacred 
Scriptures.      There  were  opposing  parties  in  the 
Church  at  almost  all  the  eras  of  its  history ;  and 
had  any  one  of  these  a  spurious  copy  of  the  sacred 
oracles,  that  fact  would  soon  have  been  discovered, 
and  would    have   been   immediately  denounced. 
But  all  parties  referred  to  these  Scriptures  as  their 
rule  of  faith  and  practice.     A  similar  remark  will 
apply  to  the  relation  between  the  Jews  and  the 
Samaritans  regarding  the  portions  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament which  they  respectively  held.     We  know 
also  that  the  books  of  the  Bible  are  referred  to  and 
quoted  from  by  writers  contemporaneous  with  and 
subsequent  to  the  evangelists.     Heathen  writers 
before  the  time  of  Christ  referred  to  the  esteem 
with  which  the  Jews  regarded  the  Old  Testament. 
Josephus  and  Philo  frequently  allude  to  it  in  their 
writings.     In  the  New  Testament,  Christ  and  His 
apostles  refer  in  one  form  or  another  to  the  Old 
Testament,  it  is  said,  about  eight  hundred  and  fifty 


AS 

times 

refer 

gospe 

in  the 

brillia 

ever  e 

theEi 

fourth 

speak 

Christ 

Her 

the  sta 

sion. 

fully  0 

TheB 

ing  th( 

sons  ai 

in  forg 


I 


le  Jews. 
3.  The 
rst  cen- 
lled  the 
id  other 

the  an- 
e  sacred 
century 
the  Old 

existed 
;  sacred 
J  in  the 
»ry;  and 
e  sacred 
covered, 
lounced. 
I  as  their 
lark  will 

and  the 
Did  Tes- 
Ve  know 
;d  to  and 
with  and 
I  writers 
B  esteem 
;stament. 
t  in  their 

and  His 
.  the  Old 

and  fifty 


ASSURED  GENUINENESS  OF  THE  BIBLE.     45 

times.  Tacitus  and  Suetonius,  in  their  histories, 
refer  to  the  facts  of  Christianity  as  recorded  in  the 
gospels.  Celsus,  one  of  the  earliest  critics,  writing 
in  the  second  century,  Porphyry,  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  opposers  of  Christianity  the  Church  has 
ever  encountered,  writing  in  the  third  century,  and 
the  Emperor  Julian,  surnamed  the  Apostate,  in  the 
fourth  century,  in  violently  opposing  Christianity, 
speak  of  the  gospels  as  written  by  the  disciples  of 
Christ. 

Here,  then,  stands  the  Word  of  God.  It  bears 
the  stamp  of  heavenly  thought  and  inspired  expres- 
sion. No  power  on  earth  or  in  Hades  can  success- 
fully oppose  the  inspired  Word  of  the  living  God. 
The  Bible  will  go  on  in  its  mission  of  mercy,  tell- 
ing the  story  of  God's  wondrous  love  to  the  sinful 
sons  and  daughters  of  men,  after  all  its  critics  sleep 
in  forgotten  graves. 


iJm=mi>t^xamfmS'»^-s~,mssiii^t0^,fS!m!B!r?^emss!tar- 


TH 


THE   UNIQUE  INSPIRATION   OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


sfl^aftmiaSSMStjHaraj*,..,,  .MSSMta.  av,-    ^ -i ,--s»v..aSi«K»fes®sa!9S«- 


III. 

The  Unique  Inspiration  op  the  Bible. 

Is  the  Bible  divinely  inspired?     What  do  we 
mean  by  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible?     These  are 
questions  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  they  are 
also  questions  to  which  many  answers  have  been 
given.     The  term  inspiration  comes  from  the  Vul 
gate  translation  of  2  Timothy  iii.  16  :  "  Omnis scrip- 
turn  divtmtus  inspirata''-"z.\\  Scripture  divinely 
mspired. "     In  this  translation  into  Latin,  the  word 
vtsptred  is    the  Greek   word   Theopneustos ;    this 
word  nowhere  occurs  in  classic  or  profane  Greek. 
Its  appearance  in  Plutarch,  competent  critics  tell 
us,  is  in  all  probability  an  error  of  the  copyist.      It 
clearly  seems  to  have  been  used  for  the  first  time 
in  the  passage  just  quoted.     It  often  became  nec- 
essary for  the  New  Testament  writers  to  coin  new 
words,  or  to  put  new  meaning  into  old  words.     The 
new  thought  born  into  the  world  with  Christianity 
frequently  required  a  new  vehicle  for  its  communi- 
cation  to  men.     It  is  somewhat  difficult  to  decide 
upon   the  exact  meaning  of  the  term,  inspired, 
God-breathed,"  as  here  employed ;  sometimes  the 
passive  meaning  was  given  to  it.  "endowed  with 
God's  Spirit";  at  other  times  it   was  rendered 


tesW<^!l*a1^JkS«»*i^aw^^ir!fc^;i■»i^}«s!asI!^^ 


5» 


THE  Ol.n   BOOK. 


"  breathing  the  divine  Spirit  "  ;  and  at  still  other 
times,  as  in  the  Vul^'ate,  "given  by  the  Divine 
Spirit."  Origen  used  the  expression,  "the  holy 
volumes  breathe  the  fulness  of  the  Spirit."  The 
Peshito  and  Ethiopia  Versions  understand  it  as 
meaning  "  inspired  by  God  " ;  the  Peshito  trans- 
lates it  "  every  Scripture  which  is  written  in  the 

Spirit." 

Definitions  of  Inspiration. 

It  is  generally  understood  that  no  well-defined 
doctrine  of  the  inspiration  was  formulated  until 
after  the  Reformation.     By  the  use  of  the  term 
inspiration  in  this  discussion  is  meant  that  divine 
control  over  the  minds  of  the  writers  of  the  Bible 
which  enabled  them  to  write  a  book  which  is  a  suffi- 
cient and  infallible  rule  of  faith  and  practice.     The 
book,  thus  prepared,  may  be  such  an  infallible  rule, 
even  though  errors  in  dates,  quotations,  enumera- 
tions, and  even  in  reasoning  should  be  found  upon 
its  pages.     It  is  admitted  that  there  are  different 
degrees  and  various  kinds  of  inspiration.     Some- 
times the  word  is  employed  to  include  revelation ; 
when  so  employed  it  implies  that  inspiration  is  the 
direct  communication  of  truth  by  God  to  man-— 
truth  which  human  knowledge  unaided  by  special 
wisdom  from  God  could  never  acquire.     At  other 
times  by  inspiration  is  properly  meant  illumination ; 
when  so  employed  the  term  means  the  quickening 
of  human  faculties  so  that  in  a  remarkable  degree 
men  may  understand  truths  already  revealed.     The 


"■-if. 


ill  other 
!  Divine 
the  holy 
."  The 
ncl  it  as 
to  trans- 
n  in  the 


ll-defined 
ted  until 
the  term 
lat  divine 
the  Bible 

isasuffi- 
ice.  The 
lible  rule, 
enumera- 
)und  upon 

different 
I.  Some- 
evelation ; 
tion  is  the 
to  man — 
by  special 

At  other 
imination; 
juickening 
ble  degree 
lied.     The 


UNIQUE  INSPIRATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.       51 

term  may  be  employed  in  cither  of  these  senses; 
it  may  also  be  employed,  as  the  connection  would 
determine,  so  as  to  include  both  of  these  mean- 
ings.    To  the  term  a  broader  meaning  is  occasional- 
ly given;  it  is  then  used  to  convey  the  impression 
of  such  divine  control  as  qualifies  for  correct  oral 
utterance,  or  for  heroic  leadership  in  the  kingdom 
of  God.     We  are  at  present,  however,  chiefly  con- 
cerned with  that  view  of  inspiration  which  is  re- 
lated to  the  authorship  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
In  this  sense  it  is  such  an  influence  over  the  writ- 
ers of  the  Bible  that  all  their  writings,  at  least  on 
distinctively  religious  subjects,  are  absolutely  trust- 
worthy.    We  saw  in  a  former  chapter  that  it  was 
natural  to  suppose  that  God  would  make  a  revela- 
tion of  Himself  to  the  children  of  men.     We  are 
now  prepared  to  affirm  that  if  God  were  to  ma^e  a 
revelation  of  Himself  to  men,  it  is  fair  to  assume 
that  He  would  keep  the  record  of  that  revelation, 
especially  in  its  distinctly  religious  teachings,  ab- 
solutely free  from  error.     In  human  courts  groat 
pains  are  taken  to  have  accurate  reports  made  by 
stenographers  of  the  testimony  of  witnesses,  the 
speeches  of  advocates,  and  the  decisions  of  judges. 
In  reports  which  are  revelations  of  the  divine  mind 
and  will  we  can  well  believe  that  God,  as  the  great 
Revealer,  would  take  the  utmost  pains  to  secure 
correct  reports  of  His  revelations.     What  we  may 
fairly  assume  seems  actually  to  have  taken  place 
in  all  the  revelations  which  God  has  given  to  men. 


*'««'%^««HSsi^&,«*-?J-^ 


r^'i.ifs^Ci;'! 'ST)^-'3wrwT 


Sa 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Jesus  assumes  responsibility  for  the  inspiration  of 
the  Old  Testament  Scriptures.     He  quotes  thee 
Scriptures  with  the  formula.  "It  is  written,    and 
also  declares  in  regard  to  that  Scripture  that     one 
jot  or  one  tittle  shall  in  no  wise  pass  away    ;  and 
He  also  calls  that  writing  "  the  word  of  God,    and 
affirms  that  U  "  cannot  be  broken."     Attention  has 
been  called  to  the  fact  that  Christ  quotes  from 
four  of  the  five  books  of  Moses,  from  the  Psalter 
from  Isaiah,  and  from  still  other  Old  Testament 
books,  with  the  formula.  "  It  is  written^       Among 
the  Jews  this  formula  indicated  that  the  quotation 
was  from  a  sacred  book,  and  a  book  whose  sacred- 
ness  depended  largely  upon  a  belief  in  its  divine 
inspiration.     Christ  paid  the  utmost  respect  to  the 
Old  Testament  Scriptures.     He  always  spoke  o 
those  Scriptures  as  the  Word  of  God;  and  to  al 
Christians  this  fact  is  incontrovertible  evidence  of 
the  divine  origin  of  these  Scriptures.     Both  Tal- 
mudic  and  Alexandrian  Judaism  agreed  in  ascrib- 
ing to  the  Old  Testament  Scriptures  a  peculiar 
and  unquestioned  authority.     It  was  cons^ntly 
affirmed  that  the  thorah,  or  law.  was  of  immediate 
divine  origin.     Some  teachers  of  Judaism  affirmed 
that  God  wrote  it  with  His  own  hand;  others  de- 
clared that  He  dictated  it  to  Moses  as  His  aman- 
uensis.     Some  were  willing  to  admit  that  Joshua 
was  the  author  of  the  account  of   the  death  of 
Moses;  but  others  went  so  far  as  to  affirm  that 
Moses  himself  wrote  the  account,  and  wrote  it 


\vi 
Je: 
\va 

ga 
die 

tea 
Sp 
hai 


spiration  of 
uotes  thcae 
ritten,"  and 
e  that  "  one 
iway  " ;  and 
f  God,"  and 
.ttention  has 
quotes  from 

the  Psalter, 
i  Testament 
1."     Among 
;he  quotation 
rhose  sacred- 
in  its  divine 
respect  to  the 
ays  spoke  of 
d ;  and  to  all 
e  evidence  of 
5.     Both  Tal- 
ced in  ascrib- 
es a  peculiar 
as  constantly 

of  immediate 
laism  affirmed 
nd ;  others  de- 
as  His  aman- 
lit  that  Joshua 

the  death  of 
to  affirm  that 

and  wrote  it 


UNIQUE  IXSPIRATIOiV  OF   THE  BIBLE.       53 

with  his  tears.  Nothing  is  more  certain  than  that 
Jesus  Christ,  who  spake  as  never  man  spake,  who 
was  the  great  Teacher  and  the  sinless  Saviour,  re- 
garded the  Old  Testament  with  as  much  respect  as 
did  the  Jews  of  His  day. 

When  Jesus  commissioned  the  apostles  and 
teachers,  He  promised  them  the  aid  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  teaching;  and  the  apostles  claimed  to 
have  received  this  promised  Spirit  and  to  have 
spoken  with  divine  authority.  They  distinctly 
affirm  that  they  spoke,  "  not  in  words  which  man's 
wisdom  teacheth,  but  which  the  Spirit  teacheth. " 
The  apostle  Paul  declares,  "  I  received  of  the  Lord 
that  which  also  I  delivereth  unto  you."  Those 
who  were  not  apostles,  as  Mark,  Luke,  James,  and 
Jude,  were  recommended  to  the  churches  by  apos- 
tolic sanction  and  authority,  and  seem  to  have  writ- 
ten under  immediate  apostolic  guidance. 

Theories  of  Inspiration. 
Thus  far  we  have  spoken  merely  of  the  fact  of 
inspiration.  It  is  fitting,  however,  that  we  press 
our  inquiry  as  to  the  mode  or  theory  of  inspiration. 
We  might  hold  the  fact  with  absolute  tenacity, 
even  though  we  could  not  formulate  satisfactorily 
a  theory  regarding  the  method  of  inspiration. 
There  are  those  who  hold  tenaciously  to  the  doc- 
trine of  the  atonement  of  Christ  who  find  them- 
selves unable  to  state  a  satisfactory  theory  of  the 
atonement.     But  it  is  well  to  discover,  as  far  as 


!S5L;-.  -.-!  ."^JiJJSS' 


54 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


we  may  learn  it,  the  method  as  well  as  the  fact  of 
inspiration. 

Some   hold  what  is   known  as    the   intuition 
theory  of  inspiration.     By  this  term  they  mean 
simply  a  greater  insight  into  truth  than  is  possessed 
by  the  majority  of  men.     They  make  inspiration 
but  a  greater  degree  of  intellectual  and  spiritual 
apprehension  than  that  which  is  possessed  by  the 
rank  and  file  of  Christian  believers.     They  deny 
the  uniqueness  of  the  inspiration  of  the  writers  of 
Holy  Scripture.     They  would  make  them  to  be 
inspired  as  were  the  great  philosophers  and  poets 
of  classical   days— or  as   were  Shakespeare  and 
Milton,   or  Tennyson,   Browning,   and   others  of 
modern  times.     Thus  knowledge  similar  to  that 
possessed  by  the  writers  of  Scripture  gave  rise  to 
sacred  books  in  other  religions,  and  to  'vo.'  s  on 
philosophy  and  art  in  other  relations  in  lif  i  ^ 

view  of  inspiration  makes  it  but  a  higher  d*.  « 'ft  . 
ment  of  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  potency  of 
which  every  man  is  possessed  in  some  degree. 

Doubtless  there  is  an  element  of  truth  in  this 
view.  All  men  have  some  insight  into  the  truth, 
and  the  true  theory  of  inspiration  recognizes  this 
general  fact.  'But,  unfortunately,  in  matters  of 
religion  man's  insight  is  vitiated  by  sin;  his  Judg- 
ment is  thus  perverted,  his  moral  vision  greatly 
dimmed,  and  sometimes  it  seems  to  be  entirely 
wanting.  Except  he  be  supernaturally  guided,  he 
is  sure  to  err,  and  thus  to  be  a  blind  leader  of  the 


*'?■! 


e  fact  of 

intuition 
ley  mean 
possessed 
ispiration 

spiritual 
ed  by  the 
'hey  deny 
writers  of 
em  to  be 
and  poets 
aeare  and 
others  of 
ir  to  that 
ive  rise  to 

Wo-'  s  on 
if.  h- 

r  dt.  f'ft;- 
potency  of 
egree. 
nth  in  this 

the  truth, 
jnizes  this 
matters  of 
;  his  Judg- 
on  greatly 
be  entirely 
guided,  he 
ider  of  the 


UNIQUE  INSPIRATION'  OP  THE  BIBLE.       55 

blind.     It  is  also  to  be  observed  that  this  theory  of 
inspiration  is  self-contradictory.     If  it  were  true, 
then  one  man  is  inspired  to  teach  as  true  what  an- 
other man  is  inspired  to  contradict  as  false.     The 
Vedas,  the  Koran,  and  the  Bible,  it  has  been  well 
remarked,  cannot  be   inspired  to  contradict   one 
another.     The  Vedas  permit  stealing;  the  Bible 
denounces  theft.     Are  both  these  books  inspired  .> 
If  so,  then  there  is  no  such  thing  as  truth ;  if  so, 
then  truth  is  simply  what  men  imagine.     There  is 
no  objective  reality,  if  this  theory  be  correct ;  there 
are  only  our  subjective  notions  regarding  what  is 
real  and  true.     It  is  not  too  much  to  affirm  that  if 
this  theory  were  true,  there  is  no  God  who  is  truth 
and  who  reveals  truth.     It  is  certain  that  this  the- 
ory leads  directly  to  atheism.     It  explains  inspira- 
tion by  virtually  denying  that  there  is  any  unicity 
in  inspiration. 

Another  theory  is  known  as  the  illumination 
theory.  This  theory  holds,  with  the  preceding, 
that  inspiration  is  simply  an  increase  of  the  illu- 
mination possessed  by  every  Christian.  It  does 
not  regard  the  Bible  as  the  Word  of  God,  but  sim- 
ply as  containing  the  word  of  God.  There  is,  of 
course,  an  element  of  truth  in  this  theory.  Error 
pure  and  simple  could  not  long  endure.  It  is 
the  fibre  of  truth  in  false  doctrines  which  holds 
them  together  sufficiently  long  to  attract  notice  and 
to  receive  a  qualified  approval.  In  judging  this 
theory  it  ought  to  be  borne  in  mind  that,  strictly 


•^tst^snmmi 


% 


56 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


speaking,  the  illumination  of  the  Holy  Spirit  gives 
no  new  truth,  but  simply  a  more  vivid,  accurate, 
and  vital  apprehension  of  truth  already  revealed, 

We  come  to  what  is  known  as  the  dictation  the- 
ory.    This  theory  has  been  held  by  many  excellent 
Christian  people ;  perhaps,  indeed,  most  of  those 
who  are  known  as  orthodox  Christians,  at  some 
time  in  their  lives  held  this  theory  literally  and 
tenaciously.     It  is  sometimes  characterized  as  the 
mechanical  theory  of  inspiration.     It  holds  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  took  such  possession  of  the  minds 
and  bodies  of  the  writers  of  Scripture  that  they 
became  passive   instruments,   mere  amanuenses, 
mere  machines,  under  the  power  of  the  Spirit. 
This  is  sometimes  called  the  verbal  theory  of  in- 
spiration.    Those  who  oppose  this  theory  will  not 
deny  that  there  are  instances  when  God  spoke  with 
an  audible  voice,  and  when  the  command  was  that 
His  words  be  written  as  spoken  (Dan.  iv.    31; 
Acts  ix.  5;  Rev.  i.  10,  1 1 ;  xix.  9;  xxi.  5).     But 
these  examples  are  rare,  they  certainly  were  not 
God's  invariable,  or  even  usual,  method  of  commu- 
nicating His  divine  will.     In  favor  of  this  theory 
is  the  view  sometimes  held  that  thought  could  not 
be  suggested  by  the  Spirit  without  the  sugges- 
tion also  of  actual  words.     It  is  also  supported  on 
the  ground  that  it  gives  the  authority  of  Scripture, 
in  actual  words  to  the  doctrines  of  revelation. 
Among  the  supporters  of  this  rigid  theory  of  ver- 
bal inspiration,  frequently  known  as  the  mechani- 


was  n 


irit  gives 
accurate, 
vealed 
tion  the- 
excellent 
of  those 
at  some 
rally  and 
ed  as  the 
olds  that 
he  minds 
:hat  they 
anuenses, 
le  Spirit. 
)ry  of  in- 
^  will  not 
poke  with 
1  was  that 
.  iv.    31; 
5).     But 
were  not 
if  commu- 
lis  theory 
could  not 
le  sugges- 
>ported  on 
Scripture, 
revelation. 
)ry  of  ver- 
;  mechani- 


UNIQUE  mSPIRATIOiV  OF  THE  BIBLE.       57 

cal  theory,  were  nearly  all  of  the  Protestant  theo- 
logians of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  many, 
especially  among  the  English  and  Scotch,  in  the 
eighteenth  century;  and  in  the  nineteenth  century 
such  men  as  Carson,  Haldane,  Gaussen,  and  still 
others  representing  different  countries. 

Objections  to  the  Dictation  Theory. 

This  theory  is  opposed  because  of  the  evident 
peculiarities  of  style  observed  in  the  inspired  writ- 
ings.    There  is  manifestly  a  human  element  in 
the  Bible.     This  element  distinguishes  one  writer 
from  another.     The  variations  in  the  accounts  of 
the  same  transaction  show  that  verbal  inspiration 
was  not  the  divine  method.     If  there  were  no  hu- 
man element,  and  all  Scripture  writers  were  mere 
machines,   there  would   be   no   idiosyncrasies  in 
thought  and  expression.     We  know  that  Milton 
dictated  to  his  daughters,  and  we  know  also  that 
his  style  in  "  Paradise  Lost "  is  the  same  whethc. 
he  dictates  to  one  daughter  or  to  another.     We 
know,  on  the  contrary,  that  there  is  a  marked  dif- 
ference between  the  styles  of  various  Scripture 
writers.     No  careful  student  can  fail  to  discover  a 
difference  between  Hosea  and  Isaiah,  and  between 
John  and  Paul,  although  the  same  Spirit  suggested 
to  each  the  heavenly  thought  he  was  to  communi- 
cate.    In  reply  to  this  objection,  those  who  hold 
the  mechanical  view  of  inspiration  declare  that  the 
Spirit  accommodated  Himself  to  the  peculiarities 


SW?!^^i»S*WWSBC88SBa»st5!tSTCT««a-.t?>r-H»^«ca!iT-^r3', 


88 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


of  the  writers.     But  that  view  is  almost  an  impos- 
sible supposition,  and  granting  that  it  were  possi- 
ble, it  will  not  explain  the  divergencies  of  state- 
ment jy  different  Scripture  writers  concerning  the 
same  facts.     We  know  that  there  are  four  forms  in 
which  the  superscription  on  the  cross  is  given. 
If  we  might  expect  verbal  exactitude — ipsissima 
verba — anywhere,  it  would  be  in  giving  this  super- 
scription, but  noticeably  it  is  wanting.     If  we  com- 
pare the  words  of  our  Lord  to  the  disciples  on  the 
lake,  we  have  a  similar  divergency  in  the  forms  of 
expression.     It  is  to  be  further  said  that  verbal  in- 
spiration is  an  expression  not  indorsed  by  the  Scrip- 
tures themselves.     Perhaps  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  words  as  such  are  incapable  of  inspiration. 
Oral  words  consist  of  certain  sounds,  written  words 
of  certain  marks ;  and  these  sounds  and  marks  are 
merely  material  signs  of  which  a  spiritual  element 
can  scarcely  be  predicated.     It  used  to  be  affirmed 
that  we  could  not  think  without  words,  but  a  truer 
statement  of  mental  processes  now  obtains.      It  is 
absolutely  certain  that  children  have  thoughts  long 
before  they  have  words.     It  will  not  be  denied 
that  dogs  and  other  animals  have  some  kind  of 
dream  or  thought,  although  they  are  deprived  of 
powers  of  speech.     It  is  unfortunate  that  this  the- 
ory of  inspiration  has  been  so  earnestly  held  by 
many  noble  souls  and  true  believers  in  the  fact  of 
inspiration;  because  critics  in  opposing  the  theory 
believed  that  they  opposed  the  fact  itself.     In  de- 


inspirj 

Strict! 

of  this 

emplo) 

considi 

this  tl: 

use,  an 

Not  ur 

verbal 

It  had, 

mind  t 

vius,  th 

fully  se 

ried  it  ! 

to  the  v 

of  the 

and  At 

the  "m 

tine  spe 

member 


'•ffii' 


^Si, 


n  impos- 
re  possi- 
of  state- 
ning  the 
forms  in 
s  given. 
ipsissima 
lis  super- 
■  we  com- 
:s  on  the 
forms  of 
/erbal in- 
he  Scrip- 
much  to 
spiration. 
ten  words 
narks  are 
1  element 
;  affirmed 
at  a  truer 
IS.     It  is 
ghts  long 
)e  denied 
:  kind  of 
prived  of 
this  the- 
y  held  by 
he  fact  of 
he  theory 
f.     In  de- 


UmqUE  INSPIRA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE.       59 

stroying  the  outpost,  they  considered  that  they  cap^ 
tured  the  citadel.  We  all  certainly  are  possessed 
of  thoughts  for  which  at  the  moment  we  have  no 
adequate  word.  We  often  think  of  a  friend's  face 
when  we  are  unable  to  call  his  name;  and  God's 
Spirit  gives  us  thoughts  too  deep  for  utterance  in 
any  human  language,  both  when  we  are  addressing 
God  in  prayer  and  our  fellow-men  in  testimony 
and  exhortation. 

It  is  to  be  remembered  that  the  theory  of  verbal 
mspiration   is   comparatively   modern    in    origin. 
Strictly  speaking,  the  early  Fathers  knew  nothing 
of  this  theory.     It  is  true  that  some  of  thfem,  in 
employing  the  figure  of  a  harp  or  lyre,  have  been 
considered  by  some  modern  critics  as  indorsing 
this  theory.     But  that  figure  was  not  in  general 
use,  and  it  ought  not  to  be  too  literally  interpreted. 
Not  until  the  seventeenth  century  did  the  idea  of 
verbal  inspiration  become  formulated  into  a  theory. 
It  had,  indeed,  been  floating  about  loosely  from 
mind  to  mind  long  previous  to  that  time.     Calo- 
vius,  the  bitter  opponent  of  Grotius  and  Calixtus 
fully  set  forth  the  verbal  theory;  later  writers  ear- 
ned It  so  far  as  to  apply  it  to  the  vowel-points  and 
to  the  various  signs  of  punctuation.     Perhaps  some 
of  the  Fathers,  among  whom  were  Justin  Martyr 
and  Athenagoras,  held  the  mechanical  and  even 
the  "mantic  "  theory.     Both  Irensus  and  Augus- 
tme  speak  of  the  apostles  as  writing  what  they  re- 
membered; and  yet  at  times  they  seem  to  imply 


■  -.  h.-^.^^^mpmsr2i^.^^^£*i^^iji^. 


\  '■^ESaiT^SSPta*'  r?*ti'r» 


i 


6o 


TirR  OLD  BOOK. 


\iti. 


that  the  apostles  were  but  the  hands  which  wrote 
at  Christ's  dictation.     Origen  distinguished  be- 
tween the  contents  of  Scripture  and  its  language — 
in  which  latter  mistakes  might  occur.     He  more 
than  any  other  of  the  Fathers  discussed  the  nature 
of   inspiration.      Thomas   Aquinas   distinguishes 
between  revelation  and  inspiration.     He  properly 
affirmed  a  progressive  knowledge  as  writers  came 
in  thought   and   life   nearer  to   Christ.     It  was 
left  for  Abelard  to  assert  that  prophets  and  apos- 
tles were  not  always  free  from  error.     The  Re- 
formers always  emphasized  the  authority  of  Holy 
Scripture.     This  authority  was  not  seriously  ques- 
tioned ;  the  true  inquiry  was  as  to  the  meaning  of 
Scripture.     Luther  recognized  the  Holy  Spirit  as 
the  author  of  the  Scriptures,  but  he  admitted  that 
human  writers  showed  their  peculiarities  as  they 
poured  their  whole  heart  into  their  words.     Cal- 
vin's     sition  in  this  regard  was  substantially  that 
of  Li     er.     Calovius,  as  we  have  already  seen,  was 
the  av    .or  of  the  theory  which  was  long  identified 
with  Protestant  orthodoxy.     The  phrase  "  plenary 
inspiration  "  is  nowhere  warranted  by  the  Scrip- 
tures;   "plenary  authority"    would  be  a  better 
phrase.     Strictly  speaking,  Christ  alone  was  plen- 
arily  inspired,  of  all  human  beings. 

The  True  Theory. 

What  is  known  as  the  dynamical  theory  is  the 
theory  which  is  supported  in  these  lectures ;  it  also 


has  t 
our  t 


passn 

scioui 

Inspii 

the  w 

conce] 

reasor 

those 

fects  i 

ary  stj 

humar 

in  whi 

are  hu 

lation. 

seem, 

Bible  i 

writers 

typists 

men. 

remain 

pernal 

menwt 

took  th 


L_-i^*;*,-i>*- 1 W**^-  -■  ■'  l?**™**^ ' 


ich  wrote 
shed  be- 
nguage— 
He  more 
he  nature 
inguishes 
I  properly 
:ers  came 
It  was 
and  apos- 
The  Re- 
f  of  Holy 
iisly  ques- 
eaning  of 
Spirit  as 
litted  that 
s  as  they 
rds.     Cal- 
tially  that 
seen,  was 
identified 
!  "plenary 
:he  Scrip- 
a  better 
was  plen- 


eory  is  the 
es;  it  also 


UNIQUE  msPIRATTOf;  OF  THE  BIBLE.       6i 

has  the  support  of  the  best  theological  thinkers  of 
our  time  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.     This  the- 
ory holds  that  inspiration  is  not  a  natural  but  a 
superhuman  fact,  and  that  it  is  a  special  and  unique 
work  of  God  in  the  soul  of  man.     It  holds  with 
great  earnestness  to  the  affirmation  that  the  Scrip- 
tures are  neither  exclusively  human  nor  entirely 
divine;  and  that  the  Scripture  writers  wrote  not 
passively,  but  actively;  not  mechanically,  but  con- 
sciously;  and  not  impersonally,   but  personally. 
Inspiration  used  all  the  personal  peculiarities  of 
the  writers;  it  employed  all  their  excellencies  in 
conception  and  expression,  all  their  abilities  in 
reasoning  toward  conclusions,  and  in  formulating 
those  conclusions;  and  it  also  used  even  their  de- 
fects in  reasoning,  and  their  inelegancies  of  liter- 
ary style.     The  Bible  thus  presents  God's  truth  in 
human  forms.     The  apostles  were  earthen  vessels 
in  which  was  the  grace  of  God;  so  the  Scriptures 
are  human  vases  in  which  is  contained  God's  reve- 
lation.    Paradoxical  though  the    statement   may 
seem,  it  is  literally  true  that  the  humanity  of  the 
Bible  is  a  conclusive  proof  of  its  divinity.     The 
writers  of  the   Bible  were  not  typewriters,  but 
typists;  they  were  not  God's  pens,  but  God's  pen- 
men.    The  bush  in  which  God  appeared  to  Moses 
remained  the  bush,  while  yet  it  glowed  with  su- 
pernal splendor.     The  apostles  did  not  cease  to  be 
men  when  they  became  apostles.    The  Spirit  of  God 
took  the  faculties  with  which  they  were  endowed. 


-s 

I 

s 


6i 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


and  wrought  through  them  for  the  declaration  of 
truth  and  the  revelation  of  God.  These  writers 
were  thus  so  guided  by  the  Holy  Spirit  as  to 
secure  absolute  accuracy  in  all  the  ethical  and  doc- 
trinal teachings  of  the  liible.  Their  thoughts  were 
inspired,  but  their  words  were  not  dictated.  They 
were  so  controlled  as  to  make  no  error  of  doctrine, 
though  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  mode  of  expres- 
sion each  writer  was  left  to  the  spontaneous  move- 
ment of  his  own  mind.  This  theory  is  to-day 
accepted  by  the  majority  of  orthodox  ICnglish, 
Scottish,  and  American  theological  writers. 

IXKALLIBLIC    ReCOKD. 

Thus  inspiration  secured  an  infallible  transmis- 
sion of  God's  thoughts  through  the  minds,  tongues, 
and  hands  of  holy  men  of  old.      Inspiration  was 
neither  omniscience  nor  sanctification.     Sometimes 
it  communicated  new  truth ;  sometimes  it  simply 
guided  men  in  collecting  and  arranging  existing 
material.     The  union  of  the  human  and  divine  in 
the  composition  of  the  Bible  is  one  of  its  striking 
glories ;  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  it  is  one  of 
its  divine  excellencies.     Jesus  Christ,  the  incarnate 
Word,  was  both  human  and  divine.     The  Bible,  as 
the  revealed  Word,  is  both  human  and  divine.    The 
union  of  humanity  with  divinity  in  Jesus  Christ 
uniquely  fitted  Him  to  be  the  Saviour  of  men. 
The  union  of  the  human  and  the  divine  in  the 
Bible  perfectly  adapts  it  to  be  the  infallible  rule 


of  fait 

God, 

human 

ical;  a 

cause 

characi 

divinit; 

humani 

througl 

the  life 

than  it! 

we  cam 

bound 

for  othe 

modern 

the  hei 

we  ackr 

bosom  0 

tural  ac( 

His  uni 

Christ's 

we  deny 

ner,  it  i 

was  writ 

spired  b^ 

that  Woi 

human  i 

His  perf 

twofold 

ness  as 


•flftiS 


ition  of 
writers 
t  as  to 
.nd  doc- 
its  were 
They 
octrine, 
expres- 
is  move- 
1  to-day 
I'Inglish, 


ransmis- 
tongues, 
tion  was 
nietimes 
c  simply 
existing 
divine  in 

striking 
is  one  of 
incarnate 
Bible,  as 
ne.  The 
IS  Christ 

of  men. 
le  in  the 
lible  rule 


i 


UNIQUE  I.YSP/RA  TlOy  OF    THE   Hllil.E.       63 

of  faith  and  practice  of  men  made  in  the  image  of 
God.     Any  criticism  of  the  Bible  because  of  the 
human  element  which  it  contains  is  utterly  illog- 
ical;  as  well  might  we  criticise  Jesus  Christ  be- 
cause  of  the  human  element  in  His  birth,  life, 
character,  and  work.      It  is  possible  to  prove  the 
divinity  of  Christ  because  of  the  perfection  of  His 
humanity.      No  stream  of  human  life  ever  flowed 
through  this  world  and  reached  so  high  a  point  as 
the  life  of  Christ;  but  no  stream  can  rise  higher 
than  its  source.     If  we  deny  the  divinity  of  Christ 
we  cannot  explain  His  unique  humanity.     We  are 
bound  to  account  for  Jesus  Christ  as  we  account 
for  other  great  characters  of  history,  ancient  and 
modern.     But  we  never  shall  be  able  to  explain 
the  height  to  which  the  stream  has  risen,  except 
we  acknowledge  its  source  at  the  throne  and  in  the 
bosom  of  God.     It  is  easier  to  believe  in  the  Scrip- 
tural account  of  Christ's  divine  origin  as  seen  in 
His  unique  birth,  than  to  attempt  to  account  for 
Christ's  life  in  its  purity,  power,  and  divinity,  if 
we  deny  the  unicity  of  His  birth.     In  like  man- 
ner, It  is  easier  to  believe  that  the  Word  of  God 
was  written  by  holy  men  of  old  as  they  were  in- 
spired by  the  Spirit  of  God,  than  it  is  to  explain 
that  Word  if  we  deny  that  fact.     The  union  of  the 
human  and  the  divine  in  Christ  is  an  element  of 
His  perfection  as  the  Saviour  of  men.     So  this 
twofold  element  in  the  Bible  is  a  proof  of  its  fit- 
ness  as  the  revelation  of  God  to  man.     If  God 


.„  •swMt'&'numKm-m^if, 


64 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


is  to  communicate  truth  to  men,  He  must  employ 
language  which  men  can  understand;  He  must 
talk  to  men  as  men,  and  not  as  angels  or  seraphs. 

The  Bible  thus  remains  a  unique  book.     Every 
Christian  mind  recognizes  in  it  a  fuller  knowledge 
and  a  diviner  authority  than  are  found  in  any  other 
book.     The  Divine  Spirit  makes  Himself  felt  on 
every  page ;  He  shines  forth  in  matchless  glory  in 
every  chapter.     In  these  sacred  pages  God's  mind 
comes  into  conscious  contact  with  our  minds.     We 
may  well  believe  that  the  Scriptures  were  inspired, 
among  other  reasons,  because  of  their  inspiring 
effect  upon  the  thought  and  speech  of  all  their 
students.     Here  light  breaks  forth  as  from  the  very 
throne  of  God.     We  are  conscious  of  the  enlight- 
ening, ennobling,  purifying,  humanizing,  diviniz- 
ing influence  of  the  mind  of  God  revealed  in  the 
Word  of  God  which  we  call  the  Bible. 

In  a  later  chapter  reference  will  be  made  to 
views  originated  by  English  deists,  German  ra- 
tionalists, and  by  positivists  of  many  shades  of 
thought.  Objections  which  are  made  to  inspira- 
tion will  also  be  named  and  answered,  and  positive 
proofs  of  the  inspiration  of  Scripture  will  be  ad- 
duced. Let  us  hold  fast  to  this  holy  book  as  the 
word  not  of  men,  but  of  God,  as  the  word  which 
is  to  be  our  guide  in  life,  and  by  which  at  the  last 
we  are  to  be  judged  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
its  divine  Author. 


THE 


employ 
[e  must 
eraphs. 

Every 
owledge 
ny  other 
■  felt  on 
glory  in 
d's  mind 
Is.     We 
inspired, 
inspiring 
all  their 
the  very 
enlight- 
,  diviniz- 
d  in  the 

made  to 
rman  ra- 
hades  of 
)  inspira- 

I  positive 

II  bead- 
ok  as  the 
rd  which 
t  the  last 
jsence  of 


THE   DEFINITE   DLSFCN    0'/  THE 
BL3LE. 


:iiftm.-?«^Sef?*5F^?*J5Sffr-t  r  r'TTj'^^^r- V--1 ,-- 


;.       t 


l^i' 


<'x-:V.  >  Tj  ,-■  -^^-^  ."■  V  ^  is-t-i^/  .'i-r^'i^*' «;i*e^'»«HaM5^.-^_T<-^-saJE"^  -uw^ . 


IV. 

The  Definite  Design  of  the  Bible. 


Has  the  Bible  a  distinct  and  definite  design? 
If  so,  can  we  clearly  discover  and  definitely  state 
that  design  ? 

To  these  questions  partial  answers  were  given 
in  a  former  chapter ;  but  the  questions  are  suffi- 
ciently important  to  warrant  a  fuller  reply.  Every 
book  worthy  of  the  name  has  a  definite  design,  a 
distinct  purpose.  There  has  been  much  discussion 
recently  as  to  whether  works  of  romance  should  be 
didactic  in  their  purpose  and  definite  in  their  de- 
sign. Marion  Crawfor  1,  who  has  himself  contrib- 
uted so  many  volumes  with  a  real  though  not  a  de- 
clared purpose,  has  taken  strong  ground  against 
the  didactic  novel.  But  whether  the  purpose  be 
stated  or  not,  every  book  worthy  of  the  name  must 
have  a  definite  design.  A  purposeless  book  is  nec- 
essarily a  powerless  book.  "  Romona  "  in  its  sub- 
title clearly  states  its  purpose ;  and  that  purpose 
it  fully  accomplishes.  "Marcella"  is  a  discus- 
sion of  various  socialistic  and  economic  theories ; 
and  the  purpose  is  clearly  seen  at  every  stage  in 
its  presentation.     "  Robert  Elsmere  "  is  distinctly 


^•tJ>iSi'''yvr''i^l!^ 


'■-o.ws»'<i:n£*■,?S^'^5^S4;V*VH^'^•'■.*-i■^-<»■'i^>?^c^^«'^^ 


i 


\ 


> 


68  TffE  OLD  BOOK. 

definite  in  its  purpose,  although  weak  in  argument 
and  unscholarly  in  theological  methods.     Its  influ- 
ence is  already  decadent.     Dante's  "  Divine  Com- 
edy "  reveals  its  purpose  to  every  careful  student. 
Its  aim  is  to  show  the  awfulness  of  sin  and  the 
blessedness  of  divine  forgiveness.     Whether  the 
purpose  be  sustained  or  not,  every  volume  rightly 
conceived  and  properly  executed  has  a  distinct  pur- 
pose.    It  is  difficult  to  see  why  any  book  is  writ- 
ten if  it  have  not  a  distinct  purpose;  if  it  have  no 
purpose  it  has  no  raison  d'etre. 

The  Bible  in  this  respect,  as  in  so  many  other  re- 
gards, is  no  exception  to  this  general  rule  of  worthy 
literature.    What  is  its  purpose  ?    Incorrect  answers 
have  often  been  given  to  that  question,  and  as  a  re- 
sult false  literary  judgments  have  been  pronounced 
on  the  Bible.     It  is  not  a  text-book  on  astronomy  or 
geology,  and  it  is  not  a  treatise  on  science  or  art; 
still  it  has  inspired  the  loftiest  art  in  music,  sculp- 
ture, and  painting.     It  is  not  a  treatise  on  nature ; 
yet  there  is  in  the  Bible  more  loving  and  sublime  de- 
scription of  nature  than  is  found  in  the  whole  range 
of  the  Greek  and  Latin  classics.     There  is  more 
lofty  and  august  representation  and  personification 
of  nature  in  the  Psalter  alone  than  in  any  volume 
of  the  greatest  of  either  the  Greek  or  Latin  poets. 
The  Bible  is  not  an  encyclopaedia  of  universal  his- 
tory; and  yet  it  gives  more  general  information 
on  matters  of  universal  knowledge  than  any  other 
book  in  the  world.     Not  Herodotus,  but  Moses  is 


.!'/■ 


v.:^.rfVPV>*a*  ^--i 


i,  %(Stf  »>«=».-i4&«i5-i»*sti»>.J'*'''*''^  ■*''■'--' 


THE  DEFINITE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE,      69 


:  in  argument 
Is.  Its  influ- 
Divine  Com- 
-eful  student. 
■  sin  and  the 
Whether  the 
olume  rightly 
a  distinct  pur- 
book  is  writ- 
;  if  it  have  no 

many  other  re- 
rule  of  worthy 
:orrect  answers 
an,  and  as  a  re- 
sen  pronounced 
n  astronomy  or 
science  or  art ; 
n  music,  sculp- 
itise  on  nature ; 
and  sublime  de- 
the  whole  range 
There  is  more 
[  personification 
1  in  any  volume 
or  Latin  poets. 
)f  universal  his- 
;ral  information 
I  than  any  other 
IS,  but  Moses  is 


the  father  of  history ;  not  Lycurgus  nor  Solon,  but 
Moses  is  the  "orld's  great  lawgiver.  The  Bible 
gives  us  the  me  st  ancient  history  of  the  most  prim- 
itive events,  it  is  not  intended  to  be  a  textbook 
on  cosmogony — the  science  of  the  origin  or  crea- 
tion of  the  universe;  and  yet  it  cannot  be  proved 
that  any  of  its  statements  on  this  subject,  when 
rightly  understood,  are  contradicted  by  the  most 
authoritative  conclusions  of  modern  science.  Mod- 
ern science  has  laughed  to  scorn  the  cosmogonies 
of  some  of  the  great  nations  of  antiquity,  but  it 
nowhere  opposes  the  teaching  of  the  Bible.  The 
Bible  cannot  contradict  true  scientific  conclusions. 
God  is  one ;  truth  is  one.  God  cannot  contradict 
Himself.  What  He  affirms- in  geology  must  agree 
with  what  He  declares  in  Genesis.  Our  interpre- 
tations of  God's  teachings  in  His  two  volumes  of 
creation  and  revelation  may  differ,  but  God's  reve- 
lations themselves  always  harmonize.  Infidelity 
once  styled  Moses  a  blunderer  and  the  Bible  a 
fraud  when  the  Bible  affirms  that  there  was  light 
before  the  sun ;  but  now  all  the  scientists  declare 
that  this  very  result  must  have  occurred  from  the 
conditions  then  present.  Moses  was  no  scientist ; 
he  lived  in  an  age  when  nothing  was  known  of 
molecular  activity.  He  never  heard  of  Newton's 
theories,  or  the  nebular  hypothesis  of  La  Place.  If 
he  had,  he  could  not  have  understood  either  of 
them.  How  came  he  to  anticipate  the  conclusions 
of  modem  sbience  "i    God  taught  hira.     God  taught 


»:;i=teft)ii;a*v*j*;^  ^-^ 


J 


70 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


*^\ 


Moses,  and  Moses  teaches  the  scientists  of  to-day. 
Medical  science  in  several  important  respects  is 
slowly  attaining,  with  referen.:e  to  all  sanitary  mat- 
ters,  the  high  position  reached  by  Moses  ages  ago. 
How  came  he  to  be  so  vastly  superior  to  systems 
of  medicine  in  his  day?     How  came  he  to  be  m 
striking  particulars  in  advance  of  medical  science 
in  our  day?     There  again  stands  God.     Let  m- 
fidelity  be  dumb;  let  it  hide  its  empty  head.     It 
is  time  that  a  shallow  atheism  learned  becoming 
modesty.     The  Bible,  even  in  its  incidental  allu- 
sions, shows  a  wisdom  far  superior  to  the  teachings 
of  science  so-called  at  the  time  when  the  Bible 
was  written.     The  most  advanced   scientists  of 
that  day  were  vastly  inferior  in  scientific  knowl- 
edge to  the  inspired  writers  of  the  Word  of  God. 
The  Purpose  of  the  Bible. 

But  the  teachings  of  the  Bible  in  all  these  mat- 
ters  are  simply  incidental.     It  is,  however,  be- 
yond all  other  literature  of  its  day,  .even  m  its 
obiter  dicta.     How  unspeakably  glorious  it  must  be 
in  its  direct  statements  regarding  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  written!     How  profound  is  its  phi- 
losophy, how  seraphic  its  poetry,  how  divine  its 
revelation,  how  sublime  its  science  of  salvation! 
What  is  the  exact  purpose  of  the  Bible?     Again 
it  is  to  be  affirmed  that  it  does  not  profess  to  be  a 
cyclopedia  of  art,  literature,  or  science.     We  ought 
not  then  to  be  disturbed  by  surface  difficulties  in 


.»;i£i?,,W*«r'^i'^'i>*.~»i<..>^iS 


■r-iiwofet*"''^; 


,*««is«-w«^ii>«^•^*MS»*«J<»«-iw^^ 


Its  of  to-day. 
t  respects  is 
sanitary  mat- 
ses  ages  ago. 
r  to  systems 

he  to  be  in 
;dical  science 
od.  Let  in- 
pty  head.  It 
icd  becoming 
cidental  allu- 
the  teachings 
en  the  Bible 

scientists  of 
jntific  knowl- 
^ord  of  God. 

BLE. 

all  these  mat- 
however,  be- 
^r,  .even  in  its 
ous  it  must  be 
\Q  purpose  for 
md  is  its  phi- 
low  divine  its 
!  of  salvation! 
Bible .'     Again 
profess  to  be  a 
ce.     We  ought 
difficulties  in 


r//£  DEFINTTE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE.     7 1 

its  references  to  matters  of  this  class.  Its  pur- 
pose  is  vastly  deeper,  higher,  broader,  and  diviner. 
Its  aim  is  to  meet  man's  religious  necessities,  to 
answer  his  profound  spiritual  questions,  and  to  en- 
able him  to  live  rightly  on  earth,  and  finally  to 
enjoy  the  presence  of  God  forever  in  heaven.  It 
is  a  volume  of  supernatural  revelation  concerning 
God,  duty,  and  immortality.  It  comes  to  give  us 
a  celestial  philosophy  and  a  divine  salvation.  It 
professes  to  be,  in  the  words  of  Milton's  "  Comus  " : 

"  That  golden  key 
That  opes  the  palace  of  eternity." 

If  it  be  divinely  infallible  in  its  own  special  de- 
partment of  knowledge  and  for  its  specific  purpose, 
we  ought  not  to  demand  more.  We  go  to  the  Bible 
of  Nature  for  truths  regarding  science ;  we  go  to 
the  Bible  of  Scripture  for  truths  regarding  salva- 
tion. This  is  a  distinction  which  ought  every- 
where to  be  made.  The  Bible  is  our  great  classic 
in  the  noblest  of  all  knowledges. 

In  carrying  out  its  exalted  purpose  it  reveals  to 
us  the  character  of  God.  We  have  already  seen 
that  creation  is  a  revelation  of  God ;  but  we  have 
also  seen  that  creation  can  never  answer  the  deep- 
est questions  of  the  soul.  The  Bible  discusses  all 
subjects  of  history  as  subordinate  to  its  great  end, 
to  its  unique  design  of  making  known  God  to  men. 
Thus  only  so  much  of  general  history  is  written  as 
will  conduce  to  that  design ;  thus  we  have  a  full 


ft'<BSas*5P$f  -^iiW^S&irtW . 


7a 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


and  continuous  record  of  the  Jewish  nation,  while 
Assyria  and  other  nations  appear  upon  tho  page 
and  then  disappear  for  hundreds  of  years.  Both 
the  Psalmist  and  the  apostle  Paul  appeal  to  nature 
as  making  known  God;  "the  invisible  things  of 
Him  from  the  creation  of  the  world  are  clearly 
seen,  being  understood  by  the  things  that  are 
made,  even  His  eternal  power  and  Godhead. 
Finely  has  it  been  said  that 

"  There's  nothing  bright,  above,  below, 
From  flowers  that  bloom  to  stars  that  glow, 
But  in  its  light  the  eye  may  see 
Some  traces  of  the  Deity." 

I  But  the  human  heart  longs  for  answers  regarding 
'  which  nature  is  dumb.  That  the  heavens  declare 
God's  glory  cannot  for  a  moment  be  doubted. 
Even  heathen  philosophers  recognized  that  nature 
taught  God's  existence.  This  is  clearly  seen  in 
Plato's  Dialogues : 

"How  would  you  prove  the  existence  of  the 
gods?"  asks  the  Athenian  Stranger  in  Plato's 
"  Laws  "  The  Cretan  Clinias  answers :  "  In  the 
first  place,  the  earth  and  the  sun.  and  the  stars  and 
the  universe,  and  the  fair  order  of  the  seasons  and 
the  divisions  of  them  into  years  and  months,  furnish 
proofs  of  their  existence;  and  also  there  is  the 
fact  that  all  Hellenes  and  barbarians  believe  in 

them." 

While  crossing  the  Mediterranean  from  Africa 


!  I 


^■^  »*»--'^^i^^*«"»*^SW^-- 


■  V,x-fc-«4**»=-'*«-5va^?#6^ii'*'^^^fc*-='*^^^' 


^l^^^^i^^m^i^mi^'i^^iri^fissi^^^i^^s^^^fi^^ 


lation,  while 
3on  tho  page 
^ears.  Both 
eal  to  nature 
lie  things  of 
1  are  clearly 
igs  that  are 
I  Godhead." 


t  glow, 


'ers  regarding 
lavens  declare 
be  doubted. 
;d  that  nature 
early  seen  in 

stence  of  the 
er  in  Plato's 
wers :  "  In  the 
i  the  stars  and 
le  seasons  and 
nonths,  furnish 
)  there  is  the 
ms  believe  in 

in  from  Africa 


THE  DEPWITE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE.      73 

to  Europe  after  his  Egyptian  expedition,  Napoleon 
was  standing  on  the  ship's  deck  one  night  in  silent 
thought,  when  he  heard  a  number  of  his  officers 
loudly  denying  the  existence  of  God.  Suddenly 
turning,  he  raised  his  hand,  and  pointing  to  the 
starry  heavens,  startled  and  silenced  them  all  by 
asking:  "Gentlemen,  who  made  all  that.'"  The 
rebuke  was  immediate  and  effective.  It  seems  in- 
credible that  any  man  can  stand  amid  the  evidences 
of  God's  creative  power  on  the  earth,  can  gaze  on 
the  hosts  of  heaven,  can  listen  to  the  music  of  old 
ocean,  to  the  crash  and  roll  of  the  thunder,  to  the 
matchless  music  of  birds,  and  to  the  subtle  but 
real  "music  of  the  spheres,"  and  doubt  the  exist- 
ence, power,  and  goodness  of  God.  A  French 
atheist  said  to  a  humble  peasant :  "  We  will  pull 
down  your  spires  and  rid  you  of  your  supersti- 
tions. "  The  peasant  replied :  "  Aye,  you  can  pull 
down  our  spires,  but  you  cannot  blot  out  God's 
stars."  These  stars,  "forever  singing  as  they 
shine,"  tell  of  God's  existence,  power,  and  provi- 
dence in  language  which  no  form  of  atheistic 
philosophy  can  ever  silence. 

But  we  need  vastly  more  than  the  voice  of  na- 
ture. Nature  makes  known  God's  hand;  revela- 
tion manifests  God's  heart.  Men  without  the 
Bible  have  often  regarded  God  as  an  object  of  ter- 
ror rather  than  of  love.  They  have  perverted 
God's  purposes  in  creation,  and  have  worshipped 
the  creature  rather  than  the  Creator.     Not  desir- 


\*a(ia*S«S!S8liSiSSKjl8*i*«»" 


^r 


74 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


\  \ 


ing  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  they  hnve 
lost  that  knowledge,  and  have  erected  altars  to  un- 
known gods.  The  Bible  makes  God  known  as 
Creator,  Preserver,  Redeemer,  and  Father. 

It  also  accomplishes  its  design  by  teaching  men 
the  need  of  God.     The  human  heart  is  in  a  state 
of  unrest  until  it  finds  repose  in  God.     Only  God 
can  satisfy  the  immortal  longings  of  an  immortal 
being ;  only  the  living  God  can  meet  the  wants  of 
a  living  man.     It  is  man's  crowning  glory  that  he 
can  find  full  satisfaction  only  in  his  God.     Heathen 
mythologies  vaguely  taught  Bible  truths.     Thus 
we  are  informed  that  Prometheus,  "  Forethought," 
made  man  out  of  earth  and  water  and  stole  fire 
from  heaven  to  inspire  him  with  knowledge,  and 
that  Pandora,  "  the  All-endowed,"  made  in  heaven 
by  the  gods  and  given  to  man  as  the  first  woman 
on  the  earth,  brought  by  her  fall  all  forms  of  suffer- 
ing and  misery  upon  the  earth.     But  on  all  these 
dimly  reflected  truths  the  Bible  sheds  a  flood  of 
light.     It  reveals   man's  pristine  condition  and 
blessedness,  his  sin  and  consequent  misery,  and  it 
declares  how  he  can  be  restored  to  the  favor,  friend- 
ship, and  fellowship  of  God.     Sin  is  the  jarring 
note  in  the  oratorio  of  humanity.     How  shall  man 
be  just  with  God?     This  is  the  deepest  question 
in  human  life.     To  it,  unaided  wisdom  has  no 
satisfactory  reply.     In  its  presence  every  merely 
human   philosophy   is  absolutely  dumb.      Every 
heathen  shrine  is  man's  uninstructed  answer  to 


"^  %*-»;>v*s«fe*3  ■»i.«ia)«>S;t^^;i&*ia: 


,;-.^,.:-  .rt..ii«¥'*5«C->w4§si4.''i  i-.,^^T!*^^:^«S3a»wS*&^*f 


re,  they  hnve 
altars  to  un- 
)d  known  as 
ither. 

teaching  men 
is  in  a  state 
1.     Only  God 
an  immortal 
the  wants  of 
glory  that  he 
3d.     Heathen 
ruths.     Thus 
forethought," 
and  stole  fire 
lowledge,  and 
ade  in  heaven 
le  first  woman 
arms  of  suffer- 
t  on  all  these 
eds  a  flood  of 
condition  and 
misery,  and  it 
;  favor,  friend- 
is  the  jarring 
low  shall  man 
epest  question 
isdom  has  no 
I  every  merely 
iumb.      Every 
:ted  answer  to 


rJ/E  DEFINITE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE.     75 

this  question.  The  Bible  comes  with  an  answer 
clear  as  the  sunlight,  sweet  as  a  strain  of  angelic 
music,  and  authoritative  as  the  voice  of  God 
Himself. 

In  accomplishing  its  design,  the  Bible  gives  the 
true  rule  of  life.  Heathenism  had  no  conclusive 
answer  to  give  when  questioned  as  to  the  rule  of 
life.  Epicurus  could  only  say :  "  The  chief  good 
is  pleasure;  the  cardinal  grace  prudence."  The 
Stoics  taught  that  the  rule  of  life  is  indifference 
alike  to  pain  and  pleasure;  the  Peripatetics  taught 
that  virtue  is  to  be  pursued  in  prosperity,  but  at 
times  a  lie  is  prefet-able  to  the  truth ;  theft,  swear- 
ing, and  any  sin  were  occasionally  allowable.  In 
like  manner  philosophy  has  failed  to  supply  a  rule 
of  life  in  modern  times.  Lord  Herbert  taught  that 
men  are  not  to  be  blamed  for  acting  according  to 
their  passions.  Bolingbroke,  Volney,  and  Hume 
made  self-love  the  rule  of  life.  Modern  heathenism 
has  precepts  enough,  but  it  imparts  no  moral  power 
to  reduce  these  precepts  to  practice.  At  this  point 
Buddhism  and  all  the  ethnic  religions  utterly  fail. 
These  statements  are  not  the  result  of  preconceived 
prejudices,  but  are  in  exact  harmony  with  thor- 
oughly ascertained  facts  in  the  experience  of  hea- 
then nations.  At  this  point  the  Bible  soars  above 
all  these  systems  of  philosophy,  both  ancient  and 
modern.  It  is  radiant  with  the  glory  of  heaven  as 
an  ethical  guide,  and  it  tells  the  wandering  soul 
how  to  find  the  source  of  spiritual  power.     It  en- 


■rmemmm^i'*^-^'- 


7« 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


ables  true  seekers  after  God  to  realize  in  their 
blessed  experience  the  lofty  ideals  held  forth  in 
its  divinely  inspired  pages.     It  reveals  our  exalted 
destiny,  declaring  that  we  are  heirs  of  immortality, 
and  may  be  joint-heirs  with  Jesus  Christ.     The 
Bible  thus  points  the  way  to  godliness  of  life  on 
earth  and  immortal  glory  in  heaven.     Just  before 
his  death  the  brave  and  heroic  Socrates  could  only 
say :  "  I  am  in  good  hope  that  there  is  something 
remaining  for  those  who  are  dead,  and  that  it  will 
be  much  better  for  good  than  for  bad  men.     I  am 
going  out  of  the  world,  and  you  are  to  continue  in 
it   but  which  of  us  has  the  better  part  is  a  secret 
to  every  one  but  God."     Plato  had  only  a  hope 
but  no  assurance  of  immortality.     Cicero  ends  his 
discussion  in  uncertainty.     Seneca  says:    "Im- 
mortality, however  desirable,  is  rather   promised 
than  proved."      We   know   that   annihilation    is 
abominable  to  every  man  in  his  normal  mental  and 
moral  condition.     Who  can  answer  for  us  these 
profound  questions  ?     Human  speculation  is  silent ; 
the  most   learned   philosophy   can   give   us  only 
guesses  and  not  truths-.     Thank  God,  the  Bible 
speaks  with  the  authority  of  truth.     It  has  brought 
immortality  to  light;  it  shows  that  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  is  open  to  all  believers;  it  makes  earth 
the  vestibule  of  heaven ;  it  clears  away  all  illusions 
of  speculation,  and  floods  earth  with  the  supernal 
radiance  of  heaven.     Blessed  Bible,  Book  of  God, 
guide  of  life,  glory  of  earth,  and  revealer  of  heaven ! 


It 


-fi 


ii'. 


,va^,,-it--i.s«.-*.T*ii'<««*a^«*'"^*«*^'***'*^^ 


ize  in  their 
eld  forth  in 
I  our  exalted 
immortality, 
:hrist.     The 
s  of  life  on 
Just  before 
es  could  only 
is  something 
1  that  it  will 
men.     I  am 
3  continue  in 
t  is  a  secret 
only  a  hope 
cero  ends  his 


says; 


'Im- 


ler  promised 
mihilation  is 
lal  mental  and 

for  us  these 
ition  is  silent ; 
give  us  only 
od,  the  Bible 
It  has  brought 

the  kingdom 
t  makes  earth 
■ay  all  illusions 
I  the  supernal 
,  Book  of  God, 
aler  of  heaven ! 


^jii^s^^^' 


THE  DEFINITE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE,     11 
It  is  the 

"  Star  of  eternity  !  the  only  star 
Hy  whicli  the  bark  of  man  could  navigate 
The  sea  of  life  and  gain  securely  the  coast  of  bliss," 

But  the  Bible  not  only  gives  the  true  rule  of  life, 
but  it  supplies  needed  knowledge  as  to  how  to  se- 
cure divine  strength  for  the  development  of  char- 
acter. We  never  are  able  to  realize  our  high  ideals 
except  as  we  have  strength  given  us  from  God 
toward  that  end.  The  Word  of  God  tells  us  of  the 
source  of  spiritual  power;  it  is  the  great  instru- 
ment in  spiritual  regeneration.  The  apostle  Peter 
distinctly  says :  "Being  born  again,  not  of  cor- 
ruptible seed  but  of  incorruptible,  by  the  word 
of  God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  forever."  Thus 
the  Bible  teaches  what  to  be,  and  how  to  become 
what  it  sets  before  us  as  the  standard  of  charac- 
ter. In  this  respect  the  volume  is  unique  among 
the  books  of  the  world.  It  has  been  well  said  by 
William  Walters,  in  his  booklet  entitled  "  Claims 
of  the  Bible  "  :  "  Bible-loving  men  are  Bible-living 
men,  and  are  in  the  highest  sense  good  men." 
All  parts  of  the  Bible  tend  to  produce  spirituality 
of  character.  It  is  a  safe  and  the  only  safe  guide 
to  heaven  known  among  men.  The  Psalmist  asks, 
"  Wherewith  shall  a  young  man  cleanse  his  way.'  " 
and  he  rightly  answers,  "  By  taking  heed  thereto 
according  to  Thy  word. "  The  Bible  really  is  intel- 
ligible only  to  those  who  have  honest  minds  and 
pure  hearts.     As  the  profound  and  devout  Pascal 


78 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


truly  remarked :  "  The  liible  is  a  science  of  the 
heart  uiul  not  of  the  understanding ;  love  is  not  only 
the  end  of  the  Bible,  but  the  entrance  to  its  mean- 
ing."  The  result  is  that  the  Psalmist  could  readily 
say  that  he  knew  more  than  the  ancients  and  was 
wiser  than  his  teachers.  Voltaire  was  learned  in 
many  respects,  but  he  was  no  match  for  the  Chris- 
tian serving-woman  who 

"  Just  knows   and  knows  no  more,  her  liible  true- 
A  truth  the  brilliant  Frenchman  never  knew." 

Unenviahle  Criticism. 
Men  who  try  to  destroy  the  faith  of  the  people 
in  the  Word  of  God  are  engaged  in  a  cruel  work. 
They  would  rob  life  of  much  of  its  light,  the  heart 
of  its  chief  joy,  and  the  future  of  its  divinest  hope. 
But  they  are  engaged  in  a  work  which  they  can 
never  accomplish.      Some  of  us  are  daring  enough 
to  believe  that  William  Shakespeare  will  still  live 
after  Ignatius  Donnelly   is  dead.     This   modern 
critic  is  not  likely  to  be  successful  in  proving  that 
the  world's  greatest  poet  is  simply  a  gigantic  myth. 
It  is  well  for  critics  of  Moses  that  he  has  long  been 
in  heaven.     When  on  earth  in  the  court  of  Pharaoh, 
or  at  the  head  of  the  Egyptian  army,  he  proved 
himself  to  be  a  foeman  worthy  of  the  steel  of  his 
bravest  adversaries.     Pharaoh  tilted  against  him, 
and  Pharaoh  went  to  the  bottom  of  the  Red  Sea. 
Jannes  and  Jambres  opposed  him,  and  they  are  pil- 
loried forever  on  the  page  of  sacred  story. 


an 
ne 
atl 
thi 

SOI 

sei 
ne 
th( 
les 
kn 

gis 
ics 

Go 

de: 
th< 


••ffi 


.^-ii-SfeS=i^f«fr* 


k  **.*B.-»W**'*lf*'>«*'**'*'  -*'?■'**«•* 


science  of  the 
love  is  not  only 
cc  to  its  mean- 
It  could  readily 
cicnts  and  was 
was  learned  in 
I  for  the  Chris- 

r  nible  true- 
:r  knew." 

M. 

\  of  the  people 
n  a  cruel  work, 
light,  the  heart 
s  divinest  hope, 
which  they  can 
:  daring  enough 
re  will  still  live 
This   modern 
in  proving  that 
[I  gigantic  myth, 
lie  has  long  been 
ourt  of  Pharaoh, 
army,  he  proved 
the  steel  of  his 
ed  against  him, 
)f  the  Red  Sea. 
and  they  are  pil- 
:d  story. 


r//E  DRFixiTE  DKs/ay  (>/■•  r///-:  hi  fin-.    79 

A  child  or  an  idiot  lot  Io<«'  with  a  knife  or  a 
hammer  in  a  gallery  of  paintings  or  a  hull  of  sculp- 
ture could  destroy  more  in  an  hour  than  a  Ra- 
phael or  an  Angelo  could  create  in  a  lifetime. 
There  is  no  sphere  in  life  in  which  the  minimum 
of  talent  can  .so  atti  t  the  maximum  of  passing 
notice  as  when  ^.igcd  in  destructive  criticism; 
and  there  is  no  sphere  in  life  in  which  one's  talent 
will  so  soon  be  utterly  forgotten.  The  Hible  will 
live  as  does  its  Divine  Author.  It  will  go  on  con- 
quering and  to  conquer  in  all  the  ages  to  come. 
The  grass  of  infidel  eloquence  withercth,  the  flower 
of  agnostic  philo.sophy  fadeth,  but  the  word  of  the 
living  God  shall  stand  forever. 

The  theories  of  many  of  the  critics  are  confusing 
and  self-contradictory.  If  a  score  of  the  most  emi- 
nent critics  were  deprived  of  the  writings  of  the 
atheistic  critics  of  the  earlier  day  and  the  German 
theorists  of  to-day,  and  were  left  to  their  own  re- 
sources with  their  grammars  and  dictionaries  to 
settle  all  questions  connected  with  the  genuine- 
ness, authenticity,  and  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures, 
the  results  of  their  work  would  be  absolutely  hope- 
less contradictions.  Most  of  them  derive  their 
knowledge  at  second  hand  from  agnostic  or  neolo- 
gistic  critics.  The  conclusions  of  the  higher  crit- 
ics are  far  more  contradictory  than  is  the  Word  of 
God,  even  according  to  the  affirmations  of  the  most 
destructive  of  these  critics.  We  do  not  fear  for 
the  Bible.     Spiritual  experience  demonstrates  the 


;'*'-*f3S-»-'<^'^*ife"*^ 


8o  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

wisdom  of  the  Mosaic  law,  the  immortal  Decalogue, 
and  the  seraphic  Psalter;  the  Old  Testament  is 
indorsed  by  Christ  as  His  Bible.     Let  Christ  be 
true,  though  every  critic  be  false.     No  criticism, 
whether  higher  or  lower,  has  yet  given  us  an  ab- 
solute affirmation  that  reverses  a  single  statement 
of  our  Lord's  indorsement  of   His  Bible  as  the 
highest  revelation  of  the  will  of  God  then  made  to 
men,  and  as  a  safe  guide  to  heaven.     The  Bible 
grows   constantly  upon  all  its  students.     It  has 
revelations  adapted  to  the  spiritual  attainments  of 
all  its  readers.     As  was  said  long  ago,  it  has  depths 
in  which  a  lamb  can  wade  and  others  in  which  a 
leviathan  can  swim.     In  a  Dresden  gallery  of  royal 
gems,  it  is  said  that  there  is  a  remarkable  silver 
egg;    touch  a  spring  and  it  opens  disclosing  a 
golden  chicken;  touch  the  chicken  and  it  opens 
disclosing  a  crown  studded  with  gems;  touch  the 
crown  and  it  opens  disclosing  a  magnificent  dia- 
mond ring.     Thus   does   the   Bible   disclose   its 
charms  to  all  its  students,  its  gems  becoming  more 
and  more  valuable  as  the  spiritual  apprehension  of 
men  is  the  more  capable  of  appreciating  that  value. 
The  Bible  must  be  studied  earnestly.     It  is  not 
enough  that  we  get  something  from  it  week  by 
week  as  it  is  taught  in  the  pulpit.     Our  study  of 
it  should  be  marked  by  docility,  humilicy,  and  rev- 
erence.    The  greater  our  humility  the  vaster  will 
be  our  attainment  in  this  exalted  study.     Sir  Wil- 
liam Hamilton  uttered  a  deep  truth  when  he  said: 


sfe; 


.«-.-:^-^J.t%.l^''^^'t&ft&^|": 


',/:^iTlW«*'*WW*fe*'*'^>'®*'****''"'* 


tal  DecaK)gue, 
Testament  is 
Let  Christ  be 
No  criticism, 
ven  us  an  ab- 
ngle  statement 
5  Bible  as  the 
d  then  made  to 
n.     The  Bible 
dents.     It  has 
attainments  of 
ro,  it  has  depths 
lers  in  which  a 
gallery  of  royal 
markable  silver 
ns  disclosing  a 
n  and  it  opens 
;ems ;  touch  the 
magnificent  dia- 
ile   disclose    its 
i  becoming  more 
apprehension  of 
ating  that  value, 
lestly.     It  is  not 
rom  it  week  by 
;.     Our  study  of 
lumilicy,  and  rev- 
ty  the  vaster  will 
study.     Sir  Wil- 
ith  when  he  said : 


r^£:  DEFINITE  DESIGN  OF  THE  BIBLE.     8 1 

"The  highest  reach  of  human  science  is  the  scien- 
tific recognition  of  human  ignorance. "     And  the 
Psalmist  experienced  tiTe  same  truth  when  he  sang : 
"  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear 
Him,  and  He  will  show  them  His  covenant."     Dr 
George  Dana  Boardman,  in  his  booklet,  "  The  Two 
Bibles,"  quotes  these  suggestive  questions  from 
John  Ruskin :  "  In  what  science  is  knowledge  to 
be  had  cheap,  or  truth  to  be  told  over  a  velvet 
cushion,  in  half  an  hour's  talk,  every  seventh  day.' 
Can  you  learn  chemistry  so,  or  geology,  or  anat- 
omy .'     And  do  you  expect  to  penetrate  the  secret 
of  all  secrets,  and  to  know  that  whose  price  is 
above  rubies,  in  so  easy  a  fashion }  " 

Let  us  then  recognize  clearly  the  distinct  design 
of  the  Bible.  Let  us  study  it  constantly,  reverently, 
and  prayerfully;  and,  most  of  all,  let  us  submit  our 
hearts  to  its  teaching.  Then  shall  we  sweetly  ex- 
perience the  truth  of  our  Lord's  words— a  truth  as 
distinctly  philosophic  as  it  is  profoundly  spiritual : 
"  If  any  man  willeth  to  do  His  will,  he  shall  know 
of  the  teaching." 
6 


fttisli.i!!te^t!h»t»^ 


THE    INERRANT     TEACHING    OF    THE 
BIBLE. 


V. 

The  Inerrant  Teaching  of  the  Bible. 

Has  the  Bible  spoken  with  absolute  truth  re- 
garding the  deepest  questionings  of  the  human 
heart  ?  Is  it  an  infallible  guide  to  human  conduct  ? 
Can  the  longing  soul  hear  in  the  Word  of  God  the 
voice  of  the  loving  Father? 

That  God  has  spoken  in  nature  is  joyously,  de- 
voutly, and  gratefully  admitted.  The  Psalmist  in 
the  nineteenth  psalm,  in  majestic  personification, 
represents  one  day  as  calling  to  the  next  in  the  ut- 
terance of  divine  speech.  He  also  represents  night 
as  whispering  to  her  successor  night,  showing  di- 
vine knowledge.  He  reminds  us  that  God's  tes- 
timony in  nature  is  heard  throughout  the  whole 
world.  We  have  all  seen  the  glory  of  nature  in 
the  mute  uut  eloquent  language  of  sunrise  and  sun- 
set, in  the  white  robe  of  winter,  and  in  the  vivid 
greenness  of  summer.  We  have  listened  to  the 
music  of  nature's  harp,  which  has  been  to  us  rhyth- 
mic, inspiring,  and  ennobling.  The  king  of  day 
and  the  queen  of  night  alike  voice  God's  great 
thoughts  in  His  unwritten  Bible,  the  Bible  of  Na- 
ture. Nowhere  does  the  written  Bible,  the  Bible 
of  Scripture,  contradict  or  even  depreciate  the 


<teiriiiS 


^0B£ti*S«MSSS06^s> 


86 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


value  of  the  teachings  of  God's  "  elder  Scripture." 
We  ought  to  study  nature  as  sacred  in  its  place 
and  for  its  purpose.  We  ought  to  hear  the  voice 
of  God  echoing  through  the  cathedral  of  nature, 
as  Moses  heard  the  voice  of  God  in  the  burning 
bush.     It  is  true  that 

"  Earth's  crammed  with  heaven, 
And  every  common  bush  afire  with  God ; 
But  only  he  who  sees  takes  off  bis  shoes. 
The  rest  sit  around  it  and  pluck  blackberries." 

But  as  fallen  beings  estranged  from  God  we 
long  for  a  voice  more  personal,  tender,  and  divine 
than  that  which  nature  utters  in  her  most  majestic 
orations  or  her  tenderest  whispers.  We  long  for 
the  voice  that  can  tell  us  that  God  is  a  Spirit,  that 
God  is  a  Father  as  well  as  a  Creator.  We  must 
hear  God  speak  to  us  promising  pardon  for  sin, 
strength  for  daily  need,  and  transformation  of  hu- 
man character  into  its  own  divine  likeness.  This 
voice  comes  to  us  in  the  Word  of  God  w?th  all  the 
sweetness,  tenderness,  and  authority  of  God  Him- 
self. Can  this  voice  be  trusted  ?  This  is  the  ques- 
tion of  the  hour  in  theological  thinking. 

Objections  to  Inspiration. 

It  is  claimed  by  some  that  a  belief  in  inspiration 
is  vitiated,  if  not  destroyed,  because  of  literary  de- 
fects in  the  Word  of  God.  Even  Luther  accused 
Paul,  in  one  instance,  of  false  logic ;  he  also  spoke 
disparagingly  of  the  book  of  Esther.     Still  it  is  to 


S( 


1 


,er  Scripture." 
d  in  its  place 
hear  the  voice 
ral  of  nature, 
n  the  burning 


)d; 
ses, 
:berries." 

from  God  we 
ler,  and  divine 
most  majestic 

We  long  for 
i  a  Spirit,  that 
or.  We  must 
ardon  for  sin, 
mation  of  hu- 
keness.  This 
3d  w?th  all  the 

of  God  Him- 
[lisistheques- 
ing. 

[ON. 

in  inspiration 

of  literary  de- 

.uther  accused 

he  also  spuke 

Still  it  is  to 


INERRANT  TEACHING  OF  THE  BIBLE.       87 

be  observed  that  no  one  has  ever  more  magnified 
Paul  at  other  times,  and  the  Scriptures  as  a  whole, 
than  did  this  same  Luther.  A  true  doctrine  of 
inspiration  may  admit  mistakes,  or  at  least  the 
possibility  of  mistakes,  in  historical  and  biograph- 
ical statements,  while  it  denies  any  error  in  mat- 
ters of  faith  or  morals.  We  may  still  firmly  hold 
our  conviction  of  the  truth  of  Scripture,  even  if  its 
inspired  writers  erred  concerning  things  entirely 
unimportant  from  a  religious  point  of  view.  We 
ought  not  to  demand  inerrancy  on  matters  outside 
their  special  purpose,  or  perfection  in  logic  or 
rhetoric  on  the  part  of  the  writers  of  Scripture. 
If  they  received  without  adulteration  and  present- 
ed without  errancy  invaluable  spiritual  truths,  we 
ought  not  to  ask  more  at  their  hands.  They  were 
appointed  for  this  special  purpose.  The  Bible,  as 
we  have  seen,  is  God's  book,  and  yet  it  is  man's 
composition.  We  have  here  the  subtle  inter-rela- 
tion of  the  divine  and  human  element,  as  in  the 
God-man,  and  also  in  all  men  who  become  God's 
men  by  the  work  of  divine  grace  in  salvation.  It 
is  easy  to  believe  the  discourses  of  Christ,  although 
we  may  be  in  doubt  regarding  the  lists  of  some 
of  the  names  which  carry  his  genealogy  back  to 
Abraham  or  to  Adam.  The  Bible,  as  was  long 
ago  said,  was  not  given  to  teach  us  how  the  heav- 
ens go,  but  how  we  may  go  to  heaven.  Scientific 
jriattfrs  are  related  in  popular  rather  than  in 
scientific  language.     Perhaps  the  writers  did  not 


:( 


i 


^^iiEIffi^^»rtA#;m??#*t'iii*-»ftiSii-.44 


•",»■■'    ••.X;iSf..„\mv~~^^^- 


88 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


always  have  in  mind  the  proper  view  of  scientific 
interpretation,    as   we   now    understand   scientific 
teaching.      It  is  astonishing  that  the  Bible  so  often 
anticipates  (as  we  shall  later  fully  see)  many  of  the 
scientific  discoveries  of  modern  times.     Neither 
the  Hindu  Shasters  nor  any  of  the  heathen  cos- 
mogonies  can    for  a  moment  compare  with  the 
holy  Scriptures  in  their  general  agreement  with 
the  dicta  of  modern  science.     It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  the  most  advanced  modern  science  has 
nowhere  conclusively  shown  that  any  page  of  Scrip- 
ture, when  fairly  interpreted,  is  scientifically  un- 
true.    But  granting  that  there  may  be  errors  in 
Bible  cosmogony,  cosmology,  or  ethnology,  or  in 
some   other  related  science,  or  in  chronology  or 
in  some  statistical  enumeration,  what  does  such  an 
error  signify  in  a  document  whose  special  purpose 
is  the  communication  of  spiritual  t-uth  ?     Grant, 
if  any  one  so  pleases,  that  there  may  be  in  the 
Word  of  God  some  logical  irrelevancy,  or  some  his- 
torical imperfection,  we  are  not  disturbed  by  the 
admission.     Such  defects  might  set  at  naught  the 
theory  of  verbal  inspiration,  but  they  do  not  in  any 
degree  set  aside  the  fact  of  inspiration.     Our  stand- 
ard of  judgment  on  some  of  these  points  differs 
from  that  of  writers  even  a  generation  ago.     The 
inspiration  which  would  have  corrected  errors  into 
which,  according  to  our  standard  of  logic,  rhetoric, 
and  science,  writers  of  the  day  when  the  Bible  was 
written  might  fall,  would  have  been  an  utter  failure 


I 


ew  of  scientific 
stand   scientific 
e  Bible  so  often 
ee)  many  of  the 
imes.      Neither 
le  heathen  cos- 
npare  with  the 
agreement  with 
is  not  too  much 
lern  science  has 
ly  page  of  Scrip- 
icientifically  un- 
,ay  be  errors  in 
ethnology,  or  in 
1  chronology  or 
liat  does  such  an 
:  special  purpose 
I  truth  ?     Grant, 
may  be  in  the 
ncy,  or  some  his- 
listurbed  by  the 
set  at  naught  the 
ley  do  not  in  any 
ion.      Our  stand- 
;se  points  differs 
ation  ago.     The 
rected  errors  into 
of  logic,  rhetoric, 
len  the  Bible  was 
jn  an  utter  failure 


INERRANT  TEACHING  OF  THE  BIB  I.E.      89 

for  the  puriwse  for  which  it  was  given.  If  the 
writers  of  the  Bible  had  striven  to  correct  every 
scientific  error  on  the  part  of  their  readers,  their 
words  would  often  have  been  meaningless,  and 
occasionally  would  entirely  have  defeated  their 
spiritual  purpose.  How  ridiculous  men  of  to-day 
make  themselves  when  they  find  fault  with  the 
writers  of  Scripture  because  they  did  not  use  the 
nomenclature  of  modern  science !  Such  terminol- 
ogy on  their  part  would  have  made  them  as  ridicu- 
lous as  their  critics  now  make  themselves  in  their 
foolish  demands.  If  only  we  have  a  true  concep- 
tion of  what  the  design  of  the  Bible  is,  an  error  in 
such  matters  will  not  give  us  a  second  thought. 
It  is  again  repeated  that  inspiration  is  not,  and 
never  claimed  to  be,  omniscience. 

We  must  also  make  due  allowance  for  the  mis- 
takes of  copyists.  Errors  in  matters  of  history  are 
often  mistakes  in  transcription ;  and  rightly  con- 
sidered, such  errors  have  no  force  of  argument 
against  the  inspiration  of  the  Bible.  Certainly 
printers  and  proof-readers  in  our  day  are  not  infal- 
lible. Why  should  we  expect  copyists  of  the  Word 
of  God  to  be  infallible  ?  God  wonderfully  has"  pre- 
served the  Scriptures  in  these  regards ;  their  de- 
fensibility  in  this  respect  is  well  nigh  miraculous. 
They  are  far  more  free  from  various  readings  than 
are  other  ancient  manuscripts.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  affirm  that  no  existing  variation  endangers  any 
important  doctrine  of  our  faith,  and  this  is  a  remark 


^ll^t*®'fe*''*A««a«W54s<w.'i*'«i*-iH;-sai.«»ii*^ 


-^mk.hm..!by»~'!iM^ 


9© 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


able  fact.  Some  mistakes  in  mimbers  no  doubt 
there  ar^.  We  know  that  in  the  Hebrew  lan- 
guage numbers  are  expressed  by  letters  of  the 
alphabet ;  and  we  know  also  that  the  addition  or 
omission  of  a  dot  or  a  line  will  greatly  change 
those  numbers.  These  remarks  apply  to  the  num 
bers  given  in  Bible  history  as  engaged  in  battle, 
to  the  number  of  talents  of  silver  and  gold  fre- 
quently stated,  and  to  other  round  numbers  in  vari- 
ous other  connections.  But  such  matters  are  really 
of  very  little  moment.  The  criticisms  often  pro- 
nounced upon  the  Scriptures  upon  this  point  are 
easily  seen  to  be  puerile  to  a  laughable  or  to  a  pro- 
voking degree. 

We  must  also  make  due  allowance  for  the  an- 
thropopathic  element  in  describing  God.  Revela- 
tion, as  later  we  shall  fully  see,  is  progressive. 
Each  type  is  appropriate  to  its  own  period  and  for 
its  own  purpose.  Inspiration  necessarily  and 
properly  took  its  writers  and  readers  where  it  found 
both.  We  judge  of  other  writings  and  writers  by 
their  time  and  their  special  purpose;  so  we  judge 
of  Homer,  of  Shakespeare,  of  Milton,  and  of  all 
writers  and  thinkers  and  actors  in  the  world's  great 
theatre.  Why  should  we  otherwise  judge  Scrip- 
ture writings  and  writers }  Both  these  writers  and 
writings  grew  in  apprehension  of  truth  and  in  spir- 
ituality of  character  under  the  divine  intuition,  and 
proofs  of  that  growth  are  everywhere  seen  on  the 
pages  of  Scripture.     These  writers  never  commend 


JNERRANT  TEACHING  OF  THE  BIBLE.      91 


TS  no  doubt 
rlebrew  lan- 
itters  of  the 
\  addition  or 
;atly  change 
'  to  the  num 
ed  in  battle, 
ind  gold  fre- 
nbers  in  vari- 
:ers  are  really 
ns  often  pro- 
lis  point  are 
e  or  to  a  pro- 

e  for  the  an- 
[)d.     Revela- 

progressive. 
eriod  and  for 
essarily  and 
here  it  found 
id  writers  by 
so  we  judge 
1,  and  of  all 
world's  great 
judge  Scrip- 
e  writers  and 
\  and  in  spir- 
ntuition,  and 

seen  on  the 
ver  commend 


the  evil  deeds  which  they  record;  their  reports 
always  are  absolutely  impartial.  The  mitral  cor- 
rectives needed  in  relation  to  the  evil  conduct  de- 
scribed are  given  in  other  connections.  The  Old 
Testament  is  not  to  be  judged  by  the  light  shining 
at  the  close  of  the  nineteenth  century;  neither  is 
it  to  be  judged  by  the  light  which  shone  upon  the 
world  at  the  close  of  the  canon  of  Scripture.  Like 
all  literature,  it  must  be  judged  by  the  spirit  of 
the  time  in  which  it  was  produced.  We  ought  thus 
to  judge  of  the  treatment  of  the  Canaanites,  and 
so  judged,  it  will  be  seen  to  be  in  entire  harmony 
with  the  usage  of  the  times.  In  this  same  spirit 
we  are  to  judge  of  the  vindictive  character  of  the 
relatively  few  psalms  which  are  known  as  impre- 
catory. The  man  who  carries  back  the  spirit  of 
the  Gospel  as  taught  by  Jesus  Christ  to  the  ages 
which  long  antedate  His  coming  is  a  manifestly 
unfair  critic.  Such  a  method  of  criticism  would 
not  be  tolerated  regarding  merely  secular  literature 
and  the  great  characters  of  secular  history. 

Granting,  then,  that  there  are  occasional  errors 
in  history,  that  there  are  slips  in  syllogistic  reason- 
ing, that  there  are  mistakes  in  figures,  chiefly  due 
to  the  fallibility  of  copyists — the  marvel  is  that 
such  errors  are  so  few,  at  most — our  faith  in  the 
Word  of  God  as  an  inspired  rule  of  life  is  in  no 
way  shaken.  With  all  our  boasted  improvements 
in  the  printing-press,  it  is  still  almost  impossible 
to  guard  against  errors  in  books  to-day.     After 


^^^^^^^i^^^^^^^i^$^i?i^^^^^^^^^?^m^^  '^^^^f^i^::'i^''^r:^ '  '■ 


9« 


TUE  OLD  BOOK. 


three  or  four  readings  of  proof,  mistakes  are  still 
found  equally  to   the  surprise  and  annoyance  of 
authors,  proof-readers,  and  printers.     Tlie  marvel 
is  that  the  Scriptures  have  been  preserved  7*^  free 
from  error  as  they  are  even  in  the  judgu.  >*'   uf 
their  fiercest  critics.     It  was  important  thai  th' 
writers  of  the  Hible  should  use  language  in  such 
germinal  form  as  to  be  unlerstandable  by  those 
to  whom  they  wrote ;  and  they  yet  use  language 
which  is  capable  of  such  expansion  ?:>  lo  be  in  har- 
mony with  the  latest  conclusions  oi  the  most  ad- 
vanced science  of  our  day.     Many  statements  of 
Scripture  which  once  were  obscure,  or  appirently 
untrue,  have  become  clear  with  the  progress  oi  sci- 
ence, and  have  been  proved  entirely  truthlul  by 
the  various  discoveries  of  recent  times.      Light  is 
increasing  daily.     Witnesses  for  God's  Word  are 
coming  from  every  quarter.     The  spade  is  bring- 
ing them  forth  from  the  sands  and  debris  of  many 
countries  and  centuries.     Philology  and  archaeol- 
ogy join  hands  in  testifying  to  the  truth  of  holy 
Scripture.     The  widest  erudition  joins  hands  with 
the  simplest  faith  in  indorsing  the  old  Bible  as 
indeed  the  very  word  of  God.     If  we  patiently 
wait,  earnestly  study,  and  devoutly  trust,  all  ob- 
scurities will  finally  disappear,  all  doubts  will  van- 
ish, and  all  problems  will  find  their  solution.     We 
may  with  Dr.  Strong  quote  regarding  Biblical  ob- 
scurities what  Isocrates  said  of  the  work  of  Hera- 
clitus :  "  What  I  understand  of  it  is  so  excellent 


>«-«iS:U— 


es  are  still 
inoyance  of 
Tlie  marvel 
rvcti  :o  free 
udgu.  i»'   of 
nt  thai  th' 
»ge  in  such 
lie  by  those 
se  language 
o  be  in  har- 
le  most  ad- 
;^temcnts  of 
•  apparently 
gress  o!  sci- 
truthiul  by 
1.     Light  is 
I's  Word  are 
de  is  bring- 
)ris  of  many 
nd  archaeol- 
uth  of  holy 
3  hands  with 
old  Bible  as 
ve  patiently 
rust,  all  ob- 
bts  will  van- 
lution.     We 
Biblical  ob- 
jrk  of  Hera- 
so  excellent 


*-«2 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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It    i^    12.0 


—    6" 


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11.25  1111.4   111.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

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Microfiche 

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Collection  de 
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Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


■"^..- 


WERRANT  TEACHING  OF  THE  BIBLE.       93 

that  I  can  draw  conclusions  from  it  concerning 
what  I  do  not  understand. " 

Proofs  of  Inspiration. 

To  deny  that  the  Bible  is  a  divine  book  on  the 
ground  of  its  real  or  supposed  imperfections  is  as 
unreasonable  as  to  deny  that  the  world  was  created 
by  God  because  of  its  imperfections,  or  to  deny 
that  Jesus  Christ  was  perfect  simply  because  His 
character  is  inexplicable,  judged  by  the  standards 
of  human  conduct  usually  recognized  among  men. 
We  must  hold  clearly  in  mind,  as  already  earnestly 
urged,  the  purpose  for  which  the  Scripture  was 
given,  in  order  that  we  may  rightly  judge  of  its 
character.  We  have  no  right  to  criticise  the  Bible 
because  it  does  not  contain  truths  which  it  never 
was  designed  to  teach.  As  well  might  we  find 
fault  with  a  volume  of  poetry  because  it  does  not 
contain  all  needful  knowledge  of  mathematical 
problems;  as  well  might  we  object  to  an  oratorio 
because  it  did  not  give  us  knowledge  of  hydrostat- 
ics or  hydraulics.  Men  have  been  most  unwise, 
and  so  in  the  broad  sense  uncritical,  because  un- 
reasonably critical  in  their  treatment  of  the  Bible. 
The  interpretation  of  the  Bible  has  suffered  alike 
from  cynical  foes  and  heedless  friends.  We  should 
judge  it  chiefly  as  a  work  of  religious  faith  and 
life ;  and  in  this  respect  it  is  an  infallible  guide  to 
duty  on  earth  and  to  glory  in  heaven.  This  is  its 
chief  function;  and  this  exalted  aim  ennobles  it 


!:?  h 


.'l«Via!a>.-J!i;- 


94 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


above  all  other  books.  Thus  it  is  appropriately  a 
divine-human  work.  Its  specific  design,  its  exalted 
duty,  its  distinctive  glory,  must  necessarily  limit 
its  range  of  topics  and  its  method  of  discussion. 
We  do  not  expect  it  to  be  a  treatise  on  railways, 
steamships,  telegraphs,  or  telephones.  If  it  com- 
pletely discusses  the  sublimest  and  divinest  of 
themes,  that  ought  to  be  glory  enough  for  one 
volume.  Its  chief  purpose,  as  we  have  seen,  its 
divine  prerogative,  is  that  it  is  a  text-book  of  re- 
ligion. If  I  have  a  guide-book  to  India  giving  me 
correctly  the  time-tables  on  railways  and  steam- 
ships, and  a  thousand  other  things  immediately 
connected  with  my  journey  in  India,  I  shall  not 
reject  it  even  if  I  find  in  it  some  incidental  allu- 
sion to  the  United  States  containing  a  slight  error 
in  American  history.  Its  function  is  as  a  guide 
to  India.  It  may  still  be  that  to  an  admirable  de- 
gree, even  though  it  contain  some  erroneous  allu- 
sions to  botany,  geology,  or  some  other  science  or 
history  entirely  unconnected  with  its  purpose.  It 
is  true  that  some  of  the  Bible's  doctrines  involve 
historical  facts,  but  it  is  easy  to  make  all  neces- 
sary distinctions  between  historical  facts  of  vital 
importance  and  those  of  merely  incidental  relation 
to  the  purpose  for  which  the  Bible  was  given. 
The  existence  of  scientific  errors  in  the  Bible  is 
not  yet  proven,  and  probably  it  is  impossible  to 
prove  that  it  contains  such  errors.  A  careful  and 
unprejudiced  study  of  Joshua  x.  12-14,  for  exam- 


INERRANT  TEACHliVG  OF  THE  BIBLE.       95 


)priately  a 
its  exalted 
irily  limit 
liscussion. 

1  railways, 
If  it  com- 
iivinest  of 
h  for  one 

2  seen,  its 
ook  of  re- 
giving  me 
nd  steam- 
imediately 

shall  not 
ental  allu- 
light  error 
IS  a  guide 
nirable  de- 
leous  allu- 
science  or 
rpose.  It 
es  involve 
all  neces- 
ts  of  vital 
al  relation 
was  given. 
le  Bible  is 
lossible  to 
areful  and 
for  exam- 


pie,  will  conclusively  show  that  the  Bible  does  not 
affirm  that  the  sun  and  moon  stood  still,  or  even 
that  Joshua  prayed  to  God  that  they  might  pause 
in  their  course.  The  passage  shows,  when  properly 
translated  and  interpreted,  that  Joshua  did  not  pray 
to  God  at  all,  but  that  he  simply  apostrophized  the 
sun  and  moon.  The  time  has  come  when  we  must 
make  sharp  distinctions  between  the  revelations  of 
Scripture  and  the  interpretations  of  man.  The 
time  has  come  when  this  passage  should  no  longer 
be  a  stumbling-block  to  either  saints  or  sinners. 
It  has  too  long  received  a  degree  of  importance, 
alike  from  the  friends  and  foes  of  revelation,  which 
when  truly  interpreted  it  does  not  deserve.  This 
is  a  passage  which  human  interpretation  and  not 
divine  revelation  has  made  difficult. 

Direct  Proofs. 

The  gospels  claim  that  Christ  promised  inspira- 
tion to  His  apostles  (John  xiv.  i6,  17,  26;  xv.  26, 
27;  xvi.  13-1  :).  It  is  also  claimed  in  several 
passages  that  in  accordance  with  Christ's  promise 
the  apostles  received  inspiration  in  their  teachings. 
Only  a  few  passages  of  this  class  need  here  be 
stated:  Acts  iv.  8;  xi.  12;  xv.  28;  i  Peter  i.  12. 
The  apostles  did  not  hesitate  to  put  themselves  on 
a  level  with  the  Old  Testament  writers,  and  to 
these  writers  they  granted  inspiration.  They  thus 
claim  for  themselves  the  degree  of  inspiration  which 
they  attribute  to  the  writings  of  the  more  ancient 


%\ 


.  !»£«iikiAt^i.'^- 


■tfi*^',v.  •,,m!k.--' 


■JT^rsCWT^^^wr:: 


96 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Scripture:  2  Tim.  iii.  16;  2  Peter  i.  19-21.     Ths 
meaning  of  this  passage  quoted  from  Timothy  has 
been  much  discussed;  it  refers,  of  course,  to  the 
Old  Testament.     The  Revised  Version  gives  the 
rendering,  "  Every  Scripture  inspired  of  God  is," 
etc.     Is  this  a  true  rendering?     According  to  the 
common  rendering  of  this  passage,  inspiration  is 
affirmed  of  all  Scripture;   but  according  to  this 
later  rendering  the  affirmation  regarding  inspira- 
tion is  greatly  limited.     One  hesitates  to  declare 
his  conviction  that  the  common  rendering  is  the 
true  one,  when  some  scholarly  men  and  the  Revised 
Version   seem    to  prefer  another  interpretation. 
Scholarship,  however,  can  match  scholarship  on 
both  sides  of  this  subject.     Rules  of  Greek  syntax 
can  be  marshalled  to  show  that  the  common  ren- 
dering is  conformable  to  the  recognized  laws  of  this 
most  accurate  of  all  languages.     The  rendering  of 
the  Revised  Version  is  liable  to  strong  objections. 
When  two  adjectives  are  closely  joined— as  are  the 
words  Theopneustos^n^  ophelimos, "  God-breathed  " 
and  "profitable"— by  ihe  conjunction  kai,  both 
must  be  predicates,  if  either  is.     It  is  quite  certain 
that  there  is  good  authority  for  the  older  interpre- 
tation,  if  one  wishes  to  hold  it  as  here  taught.     It 
is  difficult  to  believe  that  the  apostle  meant  to 
affirm  that  divine  inspiration  belongs  to  a  part  of 
Scripture  but  not  to  tue  whole,  or  that  he  meant 
to  give  us  a  rule  by  which  to  judge  whether  or  not 
any  part  of  the  Scripture  is  inspired,  that  rule 


INERRANT   TEACHING  OF  THE  BIBLE.       97 


9-21.    Th2 
rimothy  has 
)urse,  to  the 
yci  gives  the 
of  God  is," 
rding  to  the 
nspiration  is 
ding  to  this 
iing  inspira- 
es  to  declare 
lering  is  the 
1  the  Revised 
iterpretation. 
;holarship  on 
Greek  syntax 
common  ren- 
id  laws  of  this 
s  rendering  of 
ig  objections, 
jd — as  are  the 
tod-breathed  " 
ion  kai,  both 
s  quite  certain 
)lder  interpre- 
re  taught.     It 
istle  meant  to 
gs  to  a  part  of 
that  he  meant 
whether  or  not 
red,  that  rule 


or  criterion  bei;ig  simply  its  utility.  Who  is  to 
be  the  judge  of  its  utility.^  If  that  criterion  be 
adopted,  then  every  man  makes  his  own  Bible, 
Neither  Christ  nor  any  of  His  apostles  ever  named 
a  distinction  between  different  parts  of  Old  Testa- 
ment Scripture.  The  doctrine  plainly  taught  in 
the  text  under  consideration,  and  the  doctrine  sus- 
tained by  many  other  Scriptures,  is  that  all  the 
writings  called  the  sacred  Scriptures  are  divinely 
inspired.  In  the  Old  Testament  the  authors  fre- 
quently testify  to  the  divine  origin  of  their  mes- 
sage. They  use  such  language  as  "  the  word  of 
the  Lord  came."  or  "the  Lord  spake  by  His  ser- 
vant." We  know  that  the  prophets  were  specially 
called  of  God.  The  New  Testament  writers  make 
most  explicit  statements  regarding  the  inspiration 
of  the  writers  of  the  Old  Testament.  The  inspira- 
tion of  the  New  Testament  is  also  affirmed  by  the 
apostles  insisting  upon  the  infallibility  of  their 
words  (I  Cor.  ii.  13;  i  Thess.  ii.  13).  No  one 
can  intelligently  affirm  that  the  apostles  were  not 
competent  witnesses,  neither  will  any  one  dare  say 
that  they  were  dishonest  or  fanatical.  Their  lives 
were  singularly  transparent  and  beautifully  conse- 
crated. Apart  from  the  superintendence  of  the 
Spirit  of  God  over  their  lives  and  wordS;  we  can- 
not account  for  the  purity  of  the  one  or  the  divin- 
ity of  the  other.  With  all  the  diversity  in  the 
style  of  the  various  writers,  there  is  such  a  unity 
in  thought  as  to  suggest  a  superintending  spirit 
7 


98  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

which  ruled  over  the  work  of  all..  These  writers 
never  wrote  with  the  thought  that  they  were 
contributing  each  his  part  toward  harmonious  and 
immortal  literature..  Each  wrote  out  of  his  own 
individual  taste  and  with  his  special  purpose  and 
design ;  and  yet  all  contributed  toward  one  com- 
plete whole  to  such  a  degree  as  to  evoke  the- 
surprise,  admiration,  and  enthusiasm  of  all  un- 
prejudiced critics. 

Additional  Evidence. 

The  nature  of  the  contents  of  the  Scriptures  also 
furnishes  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of  their  inspi- 
ration.    The  inherent  excellencies  of  both  Testa- 
ments witness  to  their  heavenly  origin.     The  New 
Testament  particularly  stands  out  in  marked  sepa- 
ration from  ail  contemporaneous  literature.     In 
matter,  effect,  and  motive  it  is  beyond  all  compar- 
ison superior  to  all  other   literature  of  its  own 
day  or  any  other  time.     In  many  respects,  in  its 
thought  and  expression  it  is  totally  opposed  to  the 
entire  spirit  of  the  age  in  which  it  was  written, 
and  to  the  opinions  of  the  people  to  whom  it  was 
primarily  given.     The  development  of  literature 
in  different  countries  is  recognized  among  all  lit- 
erary students;   but  the  New  Testament,  in  its 
pure  thought,  heavenly  atmosphere,  and  divine  in- 
fluence, stands  apart  from  all  the  law  of  move- 
ment, of  progress,  and  of  attainment  among  unin- 
spired writers  of  every  country  and  century.     The 


INERRANT  TEACHING  OF   THE  BIBLE.       99 


hese  writers 

they  were 

monious  and 

of  his  own 

purpose  and 

ird  one  com- 

0  evoke  the* 

of  all  un- 


:riptures  also 
f  their  inspi- 
both  Testa- 
i.     The  New 
marked  sepa- 
terature.     In 
\  all  compar- 
;  of  its  own 
spects,  in  its 
pposed  to  the 
was  written, 
whom  it  was 
of  literature 
among  all  lit- 
iment,  in  its 
md  divine  in- 
law of  move- 
among  unin- 
entury.     The 


volume  possesses  a  unity,  a  singleness  of  purpose, 
and  an  elevation  of  tone  which  stamp  it  as  a  work 
alike  of  human  genius  and  of  divine  inspiration. 
Its  statements  are  characterized  by  a  sublime  sim- 
plicity and  a  divine  sublimity.      Its  calmness,  com- 
prehension, reticence,  and  majesty  differentiate  it 
from  all  the  literatures  of  the  world;     Well  may 
Van  Oosterzee  say:   "He  who  will  acknowledge 
in  Scripture  nothing  higher  than  a  purely  human 
character  comes  into  collision  not  only  with  our 
Lord's  word  afld  that  of  His  witnesses,  but  also 
with  the  Christian  consciousness  of  all  ages.     It 
is  impossible  to  account  for  these  exalted  qualities 
on  any  other  hypothesis  than  that  the  writers  of 
this  uncommon  volume  were  under  the  special  in- 
fluence of  God  m  thought  and  speech. "     These 
records  have  been  subjected  to  every  conceivable 
form  of  criticism,  and  yet  they  have  remained  un- 
impeached  and  unimpeachable.     There  stands  God. 
These  records  are  as  much  superior  to  the  tradi- 
tions of  mere  men  as  Christ  is  superior  to  all  false 
Christs,  who  for  a  time  have  challenged  the  thought 
of  men  simply  to  disappear  in  total  silence  or  to 
linger  before  men  in  complete  dishonor. 

It  would  seem  that  in  the  apostolic  Church  in- 
spiration was  not  confined  to  the  apostles.  Por- 
tions of  Scripture  were  written  by  others  than 
apostles,  and  were  yet  in  harmony  with  the  spirit, 
doctrines,  and  facts  of  the  apostles  in  the  Scrip- 
tures acknowledged  to  be  theirs.     To  this  class 


I 


lOO 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


belong  possibly  the  ^pi^tle  to  the  Hebrews  and 
certainly  the  Gospels  of  Mark  and   Luke.     Al 
testimony  points  to  Mark  as  the  companion  and 
secretary  of  Peter. 'from  whose  early  teachings  he 
probably  composed  his  gospel;   and  .t  .s  certain 
TL  in  his  writings  Luke  ^^^  '^^ ^^^^'^\::^ 
indorsemenfof  the  apostle  Paul.     The  Old  Testa 
n,ent  existed  long  before  Christ's  days;  even  the 
Septuagint  translations  were  extant  for  one  and 
a  half  centuries  previous  to  that  time.     The  Old 
Testament  was  Christ's  Bible.     He  loved  it,  He 
qu      Tit.  and  He  indorsed  it,  but  He  never  once 
criticised  it.     The  Jews  of  the  time  of  Christ  uni- 
versally  recognized  the  Old  Testament  writings  as 
la  red;  and^he  progress  of  our  invest  gations  in 
history   archeology,  and  exploration  all  ten^^^^^^^^^ 
confirm  the  statements  of  the  ancient  Scriptures. 
Repeatedly  did  Christ  cite  the  Old  Testament  as 
undisputed  authority  (Matt.  v.  17;  xi.  13;  xvi.  4. 
xxii.3MXXvi.  54.  and  in  many  other  p^sage). 

The  apostles  in  all  their  writings  (in  2  Tim.  ui. 
,6.  and  2  Peter  i.  20,  21)  directly  assert  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  Old  Testament. 

From  the  days  of  primitive  Christianity  the 
Bible  has  been  received  as  a  book  containing  the 
fruest  history,  the  sublimest  poetry  the  d^epes 
philosophy,  the  purest  morahty,  and  the  highest 
revelation  "  Search  the  Scriptures,"  sa|d  Christ 
"for  in  them  ye  think  ye  1^--^^^!," 
they  are  they  which  testify  of  Me.      The  Bible 


riebrews  and 
Luke.     AH 
mpanion  and 
teachings  he 
it  is  certain 
ssistance  and 
le  Old  Testa- 
lys;  even  the 
;  for  one  and 
Tie.     The  Old 
loved  it ;  He 
Ke  never  once 
of  Christ  uni- 
mt  writings  as 
/estigations  in 
n  all  tends  to 
:nt  Scriptures. 
I  Testament  as 

xi.  13;  xvi.  4 ; 
ther  passages). 

(in  2  Tim.  iii. 
sert  the  inspira- 

:hristianity  the 
containing  the 
;ry,  the  deepest 
ind  the  highest 
es,"  said  Christ, 
eternal  life,  and 
[e."     The  Bible 


INERRANT  TEACHING  OF  THE  BIBLE.     lOi 

has  no  rival.  It  is  the  Mont  Blanc,  it  is  the 
Himalaya  of  literature.  What  Christ,  the  living 
Word,  was  as  compared  with  other  men  on  the 
earth,  that  the  Bible,  as  the  written  word,  is  to- 
day as  compared  with  other  books.  It  comes  to 
us  with  the  authority  of  Heaven,  and  it  guides  us 
to  the  blessedness  of  heaven.  Give  this  unique 
book  your  earnest,  believing,  prayerful  study. 
Loving  obedience  to  its  teachings  will  furnish  the 
best  evidence  of  its  inspiration.  They  and  only 
they  who  obey  Christ  can  truly  know  His  doctrine. 
Let  us  bless  God  that  the  Bible,  as  His  highest 
revelation,  is  worthy  the  praise  of  saints  and 
seraphs ;  and  that  it  might  well  be  the  theme  of 
redeemed  sinners  in  heaven  if  it  contained  only 
this  one  verse — the  Bible  in  miniature,  a  verse 
containing  sufficient  truth,  if  fully  believed,  to 
save  the  whole  earth,  a  verse  which  shows  us  the 
very  heart  of  the  eternal  God :  "  For  God  so  loved 
the  world  that  He  gave  His  only-begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  Him  should  not  perish 
but  have  everlasting  life  "  (John  iii.  16). 


'fey-W,^i4l4!i,l-,Wlll-.W'a'.l-.'lii' 


i 


THE   PECULIAR   AUTHORITY   OF    THE 
BIBLE. 


:---tfai».aamKi>ja«v.-jj»iMaai.;i.')'.'.'ii... 


1} 


^f^ 


VI. 

The  Peculiar  Authority  of  the  Bible. 

It  would  seem  from  the  record  in  the  last  verse 
of  the  seventh  chapter  of  Matthew  that  the  domi- 
nant impression  produced  upon  the  people  by  the 
discourse  of  our  Lord  known  as  the  "  Sermon  on 
the  Mount "  was  its  peculiar  authority.  The  peo- 
ple never  before  had  heard  the  law  defined  as  on 
this  occasion.  They  never  before  observed  the 
high  standard  of  morality  which  now  was  erected 
for  their  guidance ;  and  they  never  before  heard  a 
discourse  so  simple  in  thought  and  so  spiritual  in 
purpose.  But  the  conviction  which  forced  itself 
upon  them  as  the  controlling  thought  of  the  occa- 
sion was  the  unique  authority  of  this  sublime  dis- 
course. They  experienced  the  commanding  power 
of  our  Lord's  doctrine ;  they  recognized  the  perspi- 
cuity of  His  statements  and  the  persuasiveness  of 
His  exhortations ;  and  especially  they  realized  that 
His  arguments  were  not  only  reasonable  but  also 
resistless.  They  could  Jiot  but  discover  the  wide 
difference  between  His  discourse  and  the  locutions 
of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees.  These  latter  dealt 
with  frivolous  cases  of  casuistry ;  they  made  puerile 


i 


!53!B«J4(4iit!!)J4;=153S3K!r.'.fiS55HSS*S!33 


io6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


distinctions,  and  they  were  engaged  in  ridiculous 
splitting  of  controversial  hairs.  They  also  quoted 
now  one  authority  and  now  another;  but  in  oppo- 
sition to  this  method  of  public  instruction  our 
Lord  dealt  in  great,  profound,  holy,  and  sublime 
principles.  And  yet  H  is  words  were  so  amazingly 
simple  that  even  a  child  could  apprehend  their  es- 
sential meanings. 

What  is  true  of  this  discourse  is  in  a  measure 
true  of  the  entire  Bible.     It  deals  at  times  in  care- 
ful argumentation  and  cogent  reasoning,  and  occa- 
sionally in  syllogistic  ratiocination;   but  it  must 
still  be  affirmed  that  the  Bible  as  a  whole  is  declar- 
ative rather  than  argumentative.     It  strikes  out  a 
new  path  for  all  subsequent  thinkers  and  writers. 
There  were  no  human  models  in  such  high  and 
spiritual  instruction  as  guides  for  its  inspired  writ- 
ers.    It  occupies  a  position  that  is  peculiar  and 
solitary.     It  imitates  no  other  volume;  it  is  inde- 
pendent of  all  other  books,  scarcely  ever  alluding 
to  any  volume  or  writer,  while  it  pursues  its  own 
lofty  path  under  divine  guidance.     It  rises  above 
the  great  field  of  ordinary  literature  as  does  the 
Himalayan  range  from  the  plains  of  India;  it  lifts 
itself  in  its  symmetrical  and  supreme  beauty  above 
all  other  literature,  as  Mount  Tabor  rises  in  its 
singularity  and  sublimity  above  the  plain  of  Es- 
draelon.     Gilfillan  has  compared  the  Bible  in  this 
respect  to  Mont  Blanc,  which  does  not  measure 
itself  with  Jura,  does  not  name  the  other  mountain 


tl 


% 


ridiculous 
Iso  quoted 
it  in  oppo- 
iction  our 
id  sublime 
amazingly 
d  their  es- 

a  measure 
les  in  care- 
,  and  occa- 
at  it  must 
le  is  declar- 
rikes  out  a 
,nd  writers. 
1  high  and 
spired  writ- 
eculiar  and 

it  is  inde- 
er  alluding 
ues  its  own 

rises  above 
as  does  the 
idia;  it  lifts 
)eauty  above 
rises  in  its 
)lain  of  Es- 
Bible  in  this 
not  measure 
ler  mountain 


PECULIAR  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    107 

"  save  when  in  thunder  it  talks  to  her  of  God,"  and 
then  does  she 

"  Answer  from  her  misty  throne 
Back  to  the  joyous  Alps." 

He  reminds  us  that  John  never  speaks  of  Plato, 
nor  Paul  of  Demosthenes,  nor  Jesus  of  any  writer 
save  Moses  and  the  prophets.     This  characteristic 
of  the  Bible  cannot  fail  to  attract  the  attention  and 
evoke  the  admiration  of  every  true  student.     There 
is  on  its  pages  a  degree  of  originality  not  found  in 
any  other  volume.     Every  reader  of  exegetical  and 
theological  writers  has  often  been  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  each  is  greatly,  and  often  properly 
and  even  unavoidably,  indebted  to  all  his  predeces- 
sors for  the  thoughts  he  utters  and  occasionally  for 
the  expressions  he  employs.     It  is  startling  how 
few  really  original,   or  even   greatly    suggestive, 
ideas  are  found  in  any  volume  written  by  an  unin- 
spired man.     Few  of  these  volumes  are  of  suffi- 
cient interest  to  justify  a  second  reading ;  it  would 
be  difficult  to  name  a  dozen  volumes  which  are 
worthy  of  three  readings.     Even  those  pages  which 
we  have  marked  upon  our  first  reading  as  especially 
worthy  of  our  consideration,  we  have  all  found 
upon  a  second  examination  not  to  be  so  valuable 
as  at  first  blush  we  had  supposed.     Probably  there 
is  no  actor  living  who  could  week  after  week,  es- 
pecially without  all  the  accessories  of  the  theatre, 
for  fifty,  thirty,  twenty,  or  even  ten  years  hold  an 
audience  in  any  part  of  the  world  by  his  exposi- 


•<! 


II 


iil 


1! 


io8 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


tions  of  the  dramas  of  Shakespeare  or  any  othcjr 
dramatist,  however  great.     But  a  good  preacher 
will  hold  congregations  during  all  these  years,  with 
growing  interest  on  their  part  and  increasing  power 
on  his  own  part.     The  Bible  has  never  been  ex- 
hausted;   it  is  absolutely  inexhaustible.     It  has 
given  rise  to  thousands  of  libraries,  and  it  will  call 
into  being  thousands  more  in  the  ages  to  come. 
It  has  inspired  genius  in  every  department  of  in- 
tellectual activity.     The  men  who  read  it  most 
constantly  and  prayerfully  are,  of  all  others  the 
men  who  are  most  profoundly  impressed  with  the 
wonders  it  contains  and  the  manifold  blessings  it 
imparts.     It  brings  the  human  mind  into  conscious 
touch  with  the  great  thoughts  of  God.  and  thus  it 
stimulates  all  human  power  to  its  greatest  capacity. 

The  Authority  of  God. 
The  authority  of  God  is  clearly  revealed  in  both 
the  Old  Testament  and  in  the  New.     "  Thus  saith 
the  Lord"  is  the  highest  authority  for  human  con- 
duct     Many  lose   much  to-day  as  the  result  of 
mistaken  methods  ot  Biblical  criticism  in  that  the 
voice  of  the  personal  Jehovah  is  so  largely  silenced 
as  the  highest  authority  for  cresd  and  conduct.    In- 
stead of  hearing  the  voice  of  God,  many  now  too 
often  hear  only  the  voice  of  some  unknown  redactor 
of  some  unknown  writings  on  many  comparatively 
unknown  subjects.     The  Scriptures  with  these  per- 
sons are  only  this  composite  redaction,  and  so  are 


)r  any  oth(;r 
3d  preacher 
;  years,  Awith 
asing  power 
rer  been  ex- 
)le.     It  has 
d  it  will  call 
jes  to  come, 
■tment  of  in- 
ead  it  most 
1  others,  the 
jsed  with  the 
blessings  it 
nto  conscious 
1,  and  thus  it 
itest  capacity. 

sealed  in  both 
"  Thus  saith 
)r  human  con- 
the  result  of 
sm  in  that  the 
irgely  silenced 
conduct.    In- 
many  now  too 
mown  redactor 
comparatively 
with  these  per- 
on,  and  so  are 


PECULIAR  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    109 

without  authority  and  without  attraction.     The 
prophet  of  old  stood  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
God.     We  need  to  return  to  his  faith,  and  so  we 
shall  have  something  of  his  power.     With  uncov- 
ered head  and  obedient  heart  he  listened  to  the 
voice  of  the  Eternal.    This  voice,  with  its  divine 
authority  over  his  conduct,  the  obedient  prophet 
never  for  a  moment  questioned.      Occasionally, 
however,  there  was  a  disobedient  prophet,  as  was 
Jonah.     He  for  a  time  determined  to  lay  aside  his 
commission.    This  is  probably  what  is  meant  when 
it  is  said  that  he  went  out  "from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord."     He  knew  quite  too  much  of  God's 
omnipresence  to  suppose  that  he  could  literally  es- 
cape from  the  presence  of  the  Almighty ;  he  im- 
plied by  this  language  that  he  gave  up  his  standing 
in  God's  presence  as  His  servant  and  minister.     He 
was  obliged  afterward  to  go  and  utter  the  mes- 
sage which  God  bad  commanded.     Only  as  God's 
prophets  engage  in  His  work  in  this  particular 
can  they  really  be  influential  with  men.     Obedi- 
ence toward  God  gives  power  toward  men. 

What  is  true  of  God's  prophets  was,  in  its  adap- 
tation and  measure,  true  also  of  God's  poets.  They 
were  taught  in  no  school  of  poetry  or  philosophy. 
They  stood  in  the  immediate  presence  of  God.  He 
*  gave  them  their  theme,  their  power,  and  their  im- 
mortality, as  they  gave  Him  the  homage  of  their 
hearts  and  the  devotion  of  their  lives.  They  sang 
the  song  taught  them  by  the  great  God,  as  they 


■  ■'■'aeawsBV*??£?52*-»'?twiT5:^ja;*SA'*^!P^Try  ■.aw?4*vscrrrt3¥Ka3r?E--tr:-i"~ 


tio  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

joyously  and  reverently  stood  in  His  presence  wait- 
ing  for  His  inspiration. 

Authority  of  Christ  and  His  Apostles. 

« 

A  similar  authority  was  manifested  by  Christ 
Himself,  as  we  have  already  seen.     He  spoke  with- 
out  hesitancy  and  with  absolute  authority.     God 
must  be  dogmatic.     He  is  of  right  the  only  genu- 
ine dogmatist  in  the  universe.     Should  God  be- 
come peccant,  or  even  hesitant,  He  would  cease 
to  be  God.     Could    God  sin,  there  would   be  a 
throneless  universe,  a  lawless  cosmos,  and  a  God- 
less world.     The  God  who  could  be  guilty  of  wrong 
is  an  impossible  conception.     He  is  the  infinitely 
best  being  in  the  universe.     If  there  be  a  better 
being  in  the  universe  than  God,  that  better  being 
is  God.     His  perfection  is  His  claim  upon  us  for 
adoration.     Why  do  we  worship  God?     Not  be- 
cause He  is  omnipotent.     His  cjjnnipotence  might 
crush  us,  but  it  could  not  secure  our  love,  evoke 
our  devotion,  or   command  our   reverence.     We 
worship  God  because  He  is  infinite  in  goodness, 
boundless  in  love,  and  spotless  in  holiness.     But 
while  God  is  thus  dogmatic,  He  is  never  fickle, 
never  capricious,  never  vacillating,  and  never  rea- 
sonless. 

All  that'is  true  in  all  these  regards  of  God  the  ■ 
Father  is  equally  true  of  God  the  Son.     Jesus 
Christ  spoke  with  absolute  authority.     He  never 
hesitated  in  the  formation  or  expression  of  His 


PECULIAR  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BIBLE,     i" 


sence  wait- 


POSTLES. 

,  by  Christ 
spoke  with- 
arity.     God 

only  genu- 
ild  God  be- 
vould  cease 
vould  be  a 

and  a  God- 
Ity  of  wrong 
he  infinitely 

be  a  better 
better  being 

upon  us  for 
I?  Not  be- 
jtence  might 
■  love,  evoke 
;rence.  We 
in  goodness, 
)liness.     But 

never  fickle, 
id  never  rea- 

5  of  God  the  ■ 

Son.      Jesus 

y.     He  never 

ssion  of  His 


opinion.  A  hesitating  Christ  would  be  a  valueless, 
if  not  an  impossible  Christ.  We  never  hear  Him 
saying,  "  I  hope  so,  I  trust  so,  I  think  so."  Such 
language  if  ascribed  to  Him  would  startle  us  into 
rightful  scepticism  as  to  the  correctness  of  the 
ascription.  He  discussed  the  greatest  themes  pos- 
sible to  the  human  mind.  He  uttered  the  most 
terrible  woes  that  ever  fell  upon  human  ears ;  but 
He  baptized  His  most  solemn  denunciations  in 
tears  of  divine-human  love.  It  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  we  had  scarcely  known  hell  but  for  the 
teachings  of  the  loving  Christ.  It  is  simple  truth 
to  declare  that  He  uncovered  the  pit  to  the  eyes  of 
an  unbelieving  or  a  wondering  world.  He  spoke 
with  the  utmost  familiarity  of  God  and  of  eternity. 
He  was  as  familiar  with  His  Father  in  heaven  as 
He  was  with  His  reputed  father  on  earth.  He 
stepped  with  the  utmost  facility  and  naturalness 
from  time  into  eternity,  and  from  eternity  back  into 
time,  showing  equal  familiarity  with  both.  He 
issued  His  commands  with  all  the  authority  and 
sublimity  of  a  heavenly  potentate.  His  last  great 
commission  was  the  most  wonderful  declaration 
ever  made  in  the  ears  of  men.  He  uttered  a  posi- 
tively new  thought  when  He  commanded  His  dis- 
ciples to  go  into  all  the  world  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature.  Familiarity  with  this  command 
blunts  the  edge  of  our  wonder ;  but  if  we  take  in  all 
the  circumstances  we  shall  rightly  appreciate  the 
uniquity  of  this  wonderful  command.     No  founder 


112 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


Of  any  religion  up  to  this  time  ever  dreamed  of  es- 
tablishing  a  universal  religion.     One  of  the  f.lones 
of  many  of  the  religions  of  the  earth,  according  to 
their  own  conceptions,  is  found  in  their  exclusive- 
ness      Different  nations  had  their  gods  many  and 
lords  many.     The  woiship  of  these  deities  was  con- 
fined to  certain  definite  localities.     Some  were  gods 
of  mountains,  others  of  groves,  and  still  others  of 
streams  and  fountains.     Their  worship  was  inca- 
pable of  transference;  it  belonged  to  some  peculiar 
state  of  society,  whether  barbarously   savage  or 
classically  civilized.     It  is  true  that  among  the  more 
advanced  of  the  nations  of  antiquity  there  were  men 
who  rose  above  the  vulgar  prejudices  and  ignorant 
superstitions  of  their  times.     These  men  of  arger 
thought  at  times  had  some  conception  of  a  religion 
without  limitations  of  race  or  country.     But  the 
great  majority  believed  in  a  religion  that  was  local, 
frat  most  ethnic  or  national.     It  is  true  that  among 
the  Jews  sacred  books  were  circulating  in  which 
there  were  hints  of  a  future  gathering  of  all  nations 
under  one  faith  and  one  Lord.     But  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  these  hints  were  universally  misunderstood ; 
and  the  Jew  of  Christ's  time  was  the  narrowest  and 
most  bigoted  of  men.     His  dress,  food,  social  cus- 
toms, and  religious  ceremonies  separated  him  from 
the  rest  of  the  race;  and  he  rejoiced  in  this  na- 
tional separation.     But  here  was  a  young  man 
reputedly  the  son  of  a  Galilean  tradesman,  without 
a  formal  creed,  without  an  army,  without  a  cabinet, 


a 
F 

r 
f 

\ 

c 

r 
h 

0 

s 

0 
V 

f( 

n 
s 

0 

g 
s 

ii 

n 

n 

S( 

h 
is 
b 
n 

g 
b 

w 


PECULIAR  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BllU.R.     WX 


lamed  of  cs- 
[  the  f.lories 
iccording  to 
r  exclusive- 
Is  many  and 
ties  was  con- 
ne  were  gods 
till  others  of 
ip  was  inca- 
ome  peculiar 
y   savage  or 
long  the  more 
ere  were  men 
and  ignorant 
men  of  larger 
I  of  a  religion 
try.     But  the 
hat  was  local, 
ue  that  among 
ting  in  which 
;  of  all  nations 
as  a  matter  of 
lisunderstood ; 
narrowest  and 
lod,  social  cus- 
ated  him  from 
:ed  in  this  na- 
a  young  man, 
esman,  without 
ihout  a  cabinet, 


apparently  without  wealth  or  power,  declaring  a 
project  and  issuing  a  command  more  original,  com- 
prehensive, and  sublime  than  ever  before  emanated 
from  a  human  brain.  This  event  is  unique  in 
human  history.  This  conception,  for  originality, 
comprehensiveness,  and  daring,  entitles  Christ  to 
receive  the  crown  as  the  foremost  thinker  of  the 
human  race.  Had  He  done  nothing  more  than 
originate  and  disseminate  the  idea  that  it  was  de- 
sirable and  practicable  to  unite  the  world  under 
one  great  system  of  belief,  to  suggest  that  there 
was  a  religion  that  was  equally  needed  by,  intended 
for,  and  adapted  to  all  classes  and  conditions  of 
men  in  all  countries  and  centuries,  He  would  have 
secured  for  Himself  the  honor  of  being  the  most 
original  thinker  the  world  had  produced  and  the 
greatest  benefactor  known  to  humanity.  Here 
stands  Christ,  crowned  with  honor  and  glory,  and 
invested  with  an  authority,  originality,  and  power 
never  possessed  by  and  never  before  ascribed  to  any 
man  of  woman  born. 

The  apostles  share  in  their  measure  in  this  con- 
sciousness of  authority.  Away  over  the  rocky 
hills  of  Palestine  and  Asia  Minor,  away  over  the 
islands  of  the  historic  .(Egean  Sea — islands  which 
became  stepping-stones  for  the  feet  of  the  "  sacra- 
mental host  of  God's  elect " — went  these  messen- 
gers of  the  cross  to  deliver  the  message  given  them 
by  their  divine  Lord  and  Master.     They  realized, 

what  we  must  realize,  that  His  Word  is  the  highest 
8 


THE  OI.f>  BOOK. 
114 

u  ••  The  Bible,  whether  giving  the  teach- 
"  iThe  Itherthc  Son.  or  its  inspired  human 
mgs  of  the  father,  in  •  „(  but 

authors,  is  a  book  "'  «"^f;„„„,„d3  „p„„  its 
feel,  while  we  Usten  »  *e;7"n  „  «<,is- 
sacred  pages,  that  the  last  wo  ,     ^^^^  ^^^^^ 

'"'it'n^toT  To  authtitative  utterances  of 
we  hsten  to  the  m  ^^  Chrysostom, 

Soeiates  or  Anstotle,  01  '  >  ^  ^  w„,iam 
of  Luther  «  ^a™.  o£^>;-'»  "^^^^^^  „,  ,„  ,,ese 
r^of'Cfee.  knowledges,  of  ^.jal 

rceWns  of  inade,..  --^^^^^^^^^^ 
conclusive  decrstons^  , "!  rearly  day  we  readily 
merely  human  author  »' ^ Z"^,"  J  w,  conelu- 
see  that  time  has  »'^«"'^f„"°7JhU  positions 
sions  are  erroneous  and  *>« ja"^,  °^„,  ,^„„rty. 

have  become  to'f;;^"/^!  God  are  as  much 
But  the  teachmgs  of  the  Wor  ^^  ^^^ 

"^r  ftoX-'thTy-rat  anytime  in  the 

'^T  Th";  neUr  iLcle  obsolete  norevenobso- 

r-.?Le  Bible  is  like  a  flowing  fountam. 
lescent.    ^be  B.b  „  ^,i  g„,„. 

pounng  out  ts  «"«"'"?  y^^,. 

tions  and  bringing  fert.Uty  ""^  '1^.'^^  giye  is 
'"«  in  every  -->'„-;^  rral/undimin- 
like  the  sun  m  its  ""«""  benediction  to 

ishable  supply. -*™  '^^f^^lughtand  writ- 

""  "'"  '".h    Kble  as*on  no  other  book  in  the 
rrMfad  y'      Hey  l^ve  not   scaled  its  lofty 


■*U ., 


1 


g  the  teach- 
ipired  human 
e  cannot  but 
nds  upon  its 
ly  subject  dis- 
;  so  feel  when 
utterances  of 
r  Chrysostom, 
)r  Sir  William 
ns  of  all  these 
Iges,  of  partial 
igs,  and  of  in- 
g  any  great  but 
day  we  readily 
;  of  his  conclu- 
of  his  positions 
otful  authority. 
}od  are  as  much 
jplicable  to  the 
iny  time  in  the 
e  nor  even  obso- 
owing   fountain, 
upon  all  genera- 
very  other  bless- 
ry;  the  Bible  is 
;d  and  undimin- 
nt  benediction  to 
thought  and  writ- 
)ther  book  in  the 
;   scaled  its  lofty 


PECULIAR  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    115 

heights  nor  fathomed  its  profound  depths.  God's 
Word  is  like  Himself,  "  the  same  yesterday,  to-day, 
and  forever. " 

The  thought  of  the  divine  authority  of  their 
message  gave  the  apostles  no  small  pirt  f  their 
remarkable  power.  They  could  not  but  sp^^ik  the 
things  which  they  had  seen  and  heard ,  their  hearts 
overflowed  with  the  blessedness  of  their  message. 
They  could  appeal  to  the  profoundest  convictions 
even  of  their  bitter  foes  that  it  was  better  to  obey 
God  rather  than  man.  The  man  who  realizes  that 
he  is  but  the  voice  of  God  becomes  by  that  reali- 
zation a  resistless  force ;  he  is  simply  the  harbinger 
of  his  Lord.  He  is  simply  the  messenger  of  the 
King  of  Glory.  When  Latimer  stood  before 
Henry  VHI.,  he  reminded  himself  that  he  was  in 
the  presence  of  the  king  in  whose  power  his  earthly 
life  was.  He  must,  therefore,  speak  with  great 
wisdom,  restraint,  and  consideration.  But  he  re- 
minded himself  also  that  he  was  in  the  presence 
of  the  King  of  Heaven.  He  must,  therefore,  speak 
the  whole  counsel  of  God,  whether  the  earthly  king 
would  hear  or  forbear.  This  last  consideration 
enabled  him  so  to  fear  God  that  he  had  no  fear  of 
man.  In  this  respect  he  experienced  a  kinship 
with  the  apostle  Paul,  and  with  all  the  disciples 
and  apostles  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  with  the  Lord 
Jesus  Himself. 


,i6  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

Pulpit  Authority  To-Day. 
It  is  sometimes  declared  that  the  pulpit  of  to- 
day has  lost,  or  is  'losing,  its  power.     If  that  be 
true  to  any  extent,  the  deplorable  result  is  due  in 
part  to  the  fact  that  in  some  degree  the  preacher 
has  failed  to  recognize  himself  as  the  ambassador 
of  Jesus  Christ.     This  recognition  the  apostle  Paul 
constantly  held  in  mind.     Speaking  for  himself 
and  those  associated  with  him,  he  was  able  to  say : 
"Now  then  we  are  ambassadors  for   Christ,   rs 
though  God  did  beseech  you  by  us  :  we  pray  yuu  in 
Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God"  (2  Cor.  v. 
20).     The  true  preacher  recognizes  that  he  bears  a 
commission  issued  by  God,  countersigned  by  Jesus 
Christ,  and  sealed  by  the  Holy  Ghost.     Such  a 
man  must  preach  the  preaching  which  God  com- 
mands.    He  has  no  self-life,  but  his  true  life  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God.     He  must  have  no  self- 
will,  but  his  will  is  sweetly  blended  with  the  will 
of  his  Lord  and  Master. 

We  must  emphasize  the  idea  constantly  kept  in 
mind  by  our  fathers— the  idea  of  a  divine  call  to 
preach  the  everlasting  Gospel.  The  reality  of  this 
call  carries  with  it  the  necessity  of  the  most  thor- 
ough preparation  possible,  in  body,  mind,  and  soul, 
for  executing  this  divine  commission.  When  the 
preacher  recognizes  fully  that  he  is  an  ambassador 
for  God,  he  will  be  girded  with  strength,  guided 
by  wisdom,  and  constrained  by  love.    Only  as  he 


ii 
ti 
T 

P 
tl 


Ml*t-1 3*««^^T"- 1 


PECULIAR  AUTHvfiirY  OP  THR  BIBLE.    M? 


julpit  of  to- 
If  that  be 
ult  is  due  in 
the  preacher 
;  ambassador 
:  apostle  Paul 
r  for  himself 
}  able  to  say : 
r   Christ,   r.s 
re  pray  yuu  in 
d  "  (2  Cor.  V. 
tiat  he  bears  a 
gned  by  Jesus 
ost.     Such  a 
ich  God  corn- 
is  true  life  is 
have  no  self- 
with  the  will 

tantly  kept  in 
,  divine  call  to 
reality  of  this 
the  most  thor- 
nind,  and  soul, 
n.  When  the 
an  ambassador 
rength,  guided 
J.    Only  as  he 


fails  to  realize  his  relations  to  God  can  he  fail  in 
the  authoritative  delivery  of  his  inspired  message. 
The  recognition  of  his  true  relation  will  give  him 
profoundest  humility  in  the  presence  of  God  and  at 
the  same  time  holy  boldness  in  the  eyes  of  men. 

Thus  it  will  come  to  pass  that  the  pulpit  of  to- 
day will  possess  some  of  the  original  authority 
and  divinity  of  the  times  of  prophets  and  apostles. 
When  the  preacher  simply  regards  himself  as 
called  upon  to  testify  what  congregations  desire 
and  then  prepares  to  give  them  that  preaching, 
whether  or  not  it  be  in  harmony  with  the  declara- 
tions of  the  Bible,  he  is  shorn  of  power  and  stripped 
of  glory,  and  he  to  some  degree  dishonors  himself 
and  his  message  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man. 
Perhaps  there  is  nothing  more  wonderf-il  even  in 
the  Bible  than  the  twofold  sense  of  deepest  per- 
sonal humility  and  loftiest  imputed  and  imparted 
authority,  on  the  part  of  prophets,  psalmists,  dis- 
ciples, and  apostles.  Once  more  we  must  allow 
this  old  book  to  have  its  place  in  the  pulpit  of  our 
churches,  on  the  shelves  of  our  libraries,  and  in 
the  hearts  of  our  congregations.  This  book  is  the 
rightful  regent  of  the  world.  It  appeals  alike  to 
the  reason,  the  affection,  and  the  imagination.  It 
comes  in  no  humble  garb,  and  it  assumes  no  lowly 
attitude  as  it  solicits  our  attention.  It  speaks  with 
an  authority  which  belongs  to  no  other  book  ever 
known  among  men.  It  demands  our  attention, 
promising  the  largest  rewards  when  its  precepts 


'V^ 


\ 


v.»Bff3?S»SIH1B9w- 


ii8 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


are  obeyed,  and  threatening  the  direst  calamities 
when  its  warnings  are  neglected.     This  book  will 
go  on  shining  £3  does  the  sun ;  its  light  cannot  be 
extinguished.     Its  voice  can  never  be  hushed,  its 
testimony  can  never  be  contradicted,  and  its  invi- 
tations will  never  entirely  lose  the  charm  of  their 
sweetness  and  tenderness.     There  is  nothing  in 
the  Bible  that  is  more  miraculous  than  is  the  Bible 
itself.     Written  as  it  has  been   throughout  the 
course  of  sixteen  or  seventeen  centuries,  in  differ- 
ent languages,  by  many  persons  in  various  social, 
intellectual,  and  religious  conditions,  it  speaks  to 
us  to-day  as  the  contemporary  of  the  latest  litera- 
ture and  as  the  exponent  of  the  highest  religious 
thought.     Apart  from  its  divine  origin,  there  is  in 
it  more  exquisite  literary  beauty,   more   tender 
description  of    nature,  more  pure  morality,  and 
greater  spiritual  sublimity,  than  in  all  other  books 
ever    composed,  in   any  land  or  language.     As 
Christ,  the  incarnate  Word,  spoke  with  an  author- 
ity peculiarly  His  own,  so  the  Bible,  as  the  re- 
vealed  Word,  speaks  with  an  authority  as  truly 
unique  as  are  its  divine  origin,  its  marvellous  per- 
petuity, and  its  exalted  morality.     By  this  word 
we  are  to  be  judged,  and  by  it  we  are  to  be  justi- 
fied  or  condemned.    He  who  opposes  the  Word  of 
God  assumes  an  enormous  responsibility.     Well 
shall  it  be  for  pulpit  and  pew  when  both  bow  low 
in  the  presence  of  God  and  His  inspired  Word,  say- 
ing:  "Speak,  Lord,  and  we  Thy  servants  shall 
promptly,  fully,  joyously  hear  and  obey  Thy  voice." 


..::h.^^-.' 


^Vrtt4«=-;«*«ffcMtaw*-.»'««**-'^ ' ' 


L*S4S5'M3>A5*»W»W'Wi«*>-" 


est  calamities 
rhis  book  will 
ght  cannot  be 
be  hushed,  its 
,  and  its  invi- 
charm  of  their 
is  nothing  in 
an  is  the  Bible 
liroughout  the 
aries,  in  differ- 
various  social, 
s,  it  speaks  to 
e  latest  litera- 
ghest  religious 
gin,  there  is  in 
,   more   tender 

morality,  and 
all  other  books 
language.  As 
with  an  author- 
ible,  as  the  re- 
hority  as  truly 
marvellous  per- 

By  this  word 
are  to  be  justi- 
ses  the  Word  of 
nsibility.  Well 
;n  both  bow  low 
pired  Word,  say- 
yr  servants  shall 
jbey  Thy  voice." 


THE   INSTRUCTIVE    RETICENCE   OF 
THE  BIBLE. 


->-W)^.i;g^l^gattX^!i^JfMVKtC!^c*^^Bj 


•iu), 


,,^jta,^,.- 


^^vi'ttwira  tsej»t*tt*a* 


VII. 

The  Instructive  Reticence  of  the  Bible. 

Edward  VI.,  king  of  England,  was  the  son  of 
Henry  VIII.  and  Jane  Seymour.  He  was  born  at 
Hampton  Court,  October  12,  1537.  He  had  but 
little  encouragement,  at  least  on  his  father's  side, 
toward  a  religious  life ;  and  yet  he  early  developed 
marked  religious  tendencies.  He  died  under  the 
age  of  sixteen,  and  was  thus  too  young  when  king 
to  exercise  pre-eminent  or  even  powerful  influence 
on  the  statesmen  or  tendencies  of  his  times.  His 
coronation  was  an  occasion  of  marked  interest. 
Three  swords  were  brought  and  laid  before  him  at 
one  stage  in  the  ceremonies.  These  swords  were 
the  emblem  of  royal  power  in  three  different  direc- 
tions. Glancing  at  these  swords,  he  paused  a  mo- 
ment, and  then  said:  "Bring  another;  there  is 
one  I  need  most  of  all — '  the  sword  of  the  Spirit, 
which  is  the  Word  of  God."'  The  Bible  was 
brought,  the  ceremony  proceeded,  and  from  that 
day  to  the  coronation  in  her  sweet  girlhood  of  the 
noble  Queen  Victoria  who  now  sways  a  sceptre  over 
the  mightiest  empire  the  world  has  ever  known,  the 
Bible  has  retained  its  place  in  the  coronation  cere- 
monies of  the  kings  and  queens  of  Great  Britain. 
It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  Bible  is  the  only 


133 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


symbol  employed  at  the  inauguration  of  the  Presi- 
dent  of  the  United  States.  It  occupied  its  usual 
conspicuous  place  when  President  McKinley,  m 
the  presence  of  uncounted  thousands,  took  upon 
himself  the  oath  of  his  high  office. 

The  tourist  in  Spain  is  certain  to  visit  the  old 
city  of  Toledo,  and  while  there  he  will  find  no 
place  more  interesting,  not  excepting  the  ancient 
and  glorious  cathedral  and  the  zocodover  or  "  square 
market,"  than  the  Fabrica  de  Armas,  the  manufac- 
tory of  Toledan  swords.     This  is  a  huge,  rectang- 
ular building,  standing  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Tagus.     It  was  erected  in  1788,  but  long  before 
that  time  the  Toledan  blades  had  become  justly 
famous.     Iberian  weapons,  and  the  fondness  of  the 
people  for  them,  are  mentioned  both  by  Livy  and 
Polybius.     The  secret  of  manufacturing  these  fa- 
mous swords  the  Moors  carried  from  Damascus  to 
Toledo.     The  temper  of  these  swords  is  so  remark- 
able that  it  is  said  they  can  be  curled  up  like  the 
mainspring  of  a  watch  without  suffering  any  mjury 
in  the  operation.     The  true  swordsman  must  know 
his  weapon.     He  must  be  absolutely  familiar  with 
its  delicate  temper,  the  sharpness  of  its  edge,  and 
the  strength  of  its  body.     He  must  have  a  quick 
eye  and  a  supple  wrist,  as  well  as  a  trusty  blade. 

All  true  believers  are  swordsmen  for  truth  and 
God  In  their  case  also  perfect  familiarity  with 
their  weapon  is  necessary  to  success  in  its  use.  It 
is  a  remarkable  fact  that  in  the  enumeration  of  the 


th 
he 
un 


"SaV 


^V^.^.-i(|l^fATrJs-****'-TW&*S*«'* 


..*js»*4'ss»w4»'ar*4>w«*»i'*"*'*' 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  1 23 


the  Presi- 

its  usual 

Cinley,  in 

took  upon 

it  the  old 
11  find  no 
le  ancient 
or  "  square 
e  manufac- 
e,  rectang- 
mk  of  the 
Dng  before 
ome  justly 
ness  of  the 
y  Livy  and 
g  these  fa- 
lamascus  to 
\  so  remark- 
up  like  the 
J  any  injury 

must  know 
imiliar  with 
:s  edge,  and 
lave  a  quick 
isty  blade, 
r  truth  and 
liarity  with 

its  use.    It 
■ation  of  the 


Christian's  armor  given  by  the  apostle  Paul  in  the 
sixth  chapter  of  Ephesians  there  is  but  one  offen- 
sive weapon,  while  there  are  five  pieces  of  defensive 
armor;  and  this  one  offensive  weapon  is  not  the 
great  Roman  spear,  but  the  sword,  the  sword  of 
the  Spirit  which  is  the  word  of  God.  No  man  can 
use  this  sword  aright  except  he  be  familiar  with 
its  temper  and  all  its  characteristics.  One  ele- 
ment of  weakness  in  the  Church  to-day  is  the  un- 
familiarity  of  so  many  Christian  men  and  women 
with  the  peculiarities  of  the  Word  of  God.  Few 
could  give  an  intelligent  analysis  of  any  one  book 
in  the  Bible ;  fewer  could  give  the  trend  of  inspired 
thought  in  the  gospels  or  epistles ;  and  still  fewer 
could  trace  the  development  of  the  divine  purpose 
from  Genesis  to  Malachi.  One  purpose  of  this 
series  of  Sunday-night  lectures  is  to  give  the  peo- 
ple additional  familiarity  with  the  sword  of  the 
Spirit.  There  is  no  sword  like  it.  When  properly 
wielded  by  pulpit  and  pew,  the  slain  of  the  Lord 
will  be  many.  No  minister  can  have  his  corona- 
tion of  honor,  power,  and  glory  unless  ever  by  his 
side  there  shall  lie  (except  when  it  is  actually  in 
his  hand)  the  sword  of  the  Spirit. 

Often  Misinterpreted. 

A  statement  of  some  of  the  characteristics  of 
the  Bible  in  this  lecture  and  in  other  lectures  will 
help  those  who  hear  and  read  these  words  better  to 
understand  and  to  use  this  celestial  weapon.     It  is 


tH 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


to  be  affirmed  that  few  books  have  been  so  greatly 
misrepresented  as  the  Word  of  God.    Many  critics 
have  misrepresented  it  because  of  their  profound 
ignorance  of  its  design  and  its  substance.     They 
have  practically  acted  upon  the  principle  which 
governed  Sidney  Smith,  who,  it  is  said,  affirmed 
that  he  did  not  read  books  which  he  was  to  review ; 
the  reading  of  the  volumes  might  prejudice  the 
judgment  which  he  might  form  and  express.     It 
would  be  simply  risible  on  our  part,  if  the  act  were 
not  so  culpable  on  their  part,  that  so  many  critics 
of  the  Word  of  God  have  written  out  of  their  igno- 
rance and  not  from  their  knowledge,  and  that  so 
many  others  have  been  governed  by  a  spirit  of 
malevolence.     This  spirit  is  manifested  on  every 
page  of  their  writings.     Their  criticisms  are  far 
less  malefic  than  they  otherwise  would  be,  because 
the  evil  spirit  which  inspired  them  is  so  constantly 
manifested.     They  write  with  a  bitterness  difficult 
to  explain,  were  it  not  for  the  deep-seated  evil  in 
the  human  heart.     Still  others,  like  Rousseau,  op- 
pose the  book  because  it  condemns  the  sins  to 
which  they  are  inclined.     When  the  Bible  con- 
demns  our  sins,  we  must  either  turn  against  the 
sins  or  against  the  preacher  and  the  truth  which 
point  out  the  sins  which  thus  bring  us  into  con- 
demnation.    Many  critics  of  the  Bible  get  their 
opinions  at  second  hand,  and  some  must  go  much 
further  back  in  order  to  find  the  origin  of  their 
opposition  to  the  inspired  Word.    No  one  can  read 


**1, 


l.sAWillWSDa^WW!*^**^^^**^^ 


jsia*«ij<iia(M»sa«s)i»se»««M»«<«'»*»'' 


i  so  greatly 
lany  critics 
ir  profound 
ice.     They 
;iple  which 
id,  affirmed 
5  to  review ; 
ejudice  the 
express.     It 
the  act  were 
nany  critics 
f  their  igno- 
and  that  so 

a  spirit  of 
ed  on  every 
sms  are  far 
I  be,  because 
50  constantly 
ness  difficult 
eated  evil  in 
lousseau,  op- 

the  sins  to 
e  Bible  con- 
\  against  the 
i  truth  which 
us  into  con- 
ible  get  their 
nust  go  much 
rigin  of  their 
)  one  can  read 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  "S 

the  current  literature  in  opposition  to  the  Bible 
without  discovering  that  many  of  the  opinions  and 
criticisms  of  to-day  are  just  the  revamped  objec- 
tions of  Volney,  Paine,  and  others  of  their  class. 
These  objections  to  the  Bible  are  simply  old  foes 
with  new  faces.  The  Bible  has  long  been  in 
ecclesiastical  warfare  what  the  Malakoff  tower  was 
during  the  Crimean  war.  We  remember  that  fierce 
battle  was  waged  around  this  historic  tower.  The 
number  and  ferocity  of  these  battles  indicate  the 
importance  which  friend  and  foe  attached  to 
the  possession  of  this  stronghold.  It  was  felt  that 
here  was  the  key  to  the  opening  of  Russia  to  the 
allied  forces.  General  Todleben  erected  earth- 
works and  fortifications  by  his  rare  genius,  and 
these  works  for  many  months  kept  the  armies  of 
France  and  England  at  bay.  The  Malakoff  and 
the  Redan,  now  historically  familiar,  were  the  most 
formidable  of  these  fortifications.  The  aiege  of 
Sebastopol,  the  "august  city,"  ranks  among  the 
most  famous  sieges  in  history.  It  lasted  for 
eleven  months.  These  famous  towers  sustained 
repeated  bombardments.  Finally,  on  September 
8th,  1855,  the  Malakoff  and  Redan  were  captured, 
and  the  Russians  were  forced  to  evacuate  these 
strongholds. 

Though  our  Malakoff  may  be  violently  attacked, 
it  can  never  be  captured.  The  Bible  possesses  a 
vitality  all  its  own.  What  has  been  said  of  the 
Church  may  with  literal  truth  be  said  of  the  Bible; 


X36 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


» I, 


M'^  \ 


it  is  an  anvil  which  has  worn  out  a  great  many 
hammers,  and  it  certainly  is  prepared  to  wear  out 
a  great  many  more.     If  men  but  knew  the  Bible, 
they  could  not  help  but  admire  it  for  its  archaic 
history,  its  seraphic  poetry,  its  resistless  logic,  and 
its  profound  spirituality.     Sir  Thomas  Lawrence 
tells  us  that  when  he  visited  the  famous  picture 
galleries  at  Rome  at  first  he  saw  but  little  to  at- 
tract his  attention  and  to  evoke  his  admiration. 
But  he  soon  discovered  that  the  fault  was  not  in  the 
picture  galleries  but  in  himself.     He  was  too  un- 
familiar with  the  treasures  of  art  stored  in  these 
famous  galleries  fully  to  appreciate  them  when  his 
first  visit  was  made.     We  are  told  that  for  six 
successive  months  he  continued  his  visits  daily; 
day  after  day,  as  the  artistic  sense  was  developed 
in  his  soul,  remarkable  beauties  appeared  in  the 
paintings.     Where  at  first  he  saw  nothing  to  win 
admiration,   later    he    saw    transcendent  beauty. 
Locke  has  well  said  that  it  takes  a  sunny  eye  to 
see  the  sun.     So  it  takes  a  clear  eye,  a  true  life, 
and  a  pure  heart  rightly  to  see  the  glory  of  God 
and  to  feel  His  presence  on  the  pages  of  His  in- 
spired book.     This  blessed  book  is  an  overflow- 
ing fountain,  unexhausted  and  inexhaustible.     For 
these  hundreds  of  years  it  has  flowed  through  the 
centuries,  and  its  stream  is  undiminished  to-day,  as 
it  goes  scattering  untold  blessings  on  its  joyous 
way     The  Bible  is  like  the  sun  in  the  abundance 
of  light  which  emanates  from  it,  and  in  the  variety 


S'>i 


i^l^^!*ifi^<^S^K^i^^»tffi^' 


r,«i«X.3«»jM«>»i5»«Ka«w; 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.   127 


;at  many 
wear  out 
he  Bible, 
5  archaic 
logic,  and 
l^awrence 
s  picture 
ttle  to  at- 
imiration. 
not  in  the 
IS  too  un- 
i  in  these 
when  his 
It  for  six 
sits  daily; 
developed 
red  in  the 
ing  to  win 
It  beauty, 
iny  eye  to 
a  true  life, 
ory  of  God 
of  His  in- 
1  overflow- 
tible.     For 
hrough  the 
d  to-day,  as 
its  joyous 
abundance 
the  variety 


of  blessings  of  which  it  is  the  source.  It  comes  to 
us  to-day  with  all  its  original  beauty  and  power. 
All  its  true  students  find  it  to  be  an  armory  filled 
with  weapons  of  celestial  temper,  a  divine  labora- 
tory of  roborant  medicines,  and  a  mine  deep  as  the 
heart  of  the  earth  and  abounding  in  noblest  wealth. 
Its  truths  fall  upon  our  souls  softly  as  the  dew, 
and  yet  they  are  resistless  in  their  power  as  the 
storm.  If  men  were  robbed  of  the  Bible,  the 
world  to  many  would  be,  as  if  it  were  without  a 
fountain  or  a  flower ;  it  would  in  sooth  be  without 
a  charm  in  life  or  a  hope  in  death. 

Remarkable  Reticence. 

One  cannot  study  the  book  without  discovering 
its  remarkable  reticence.  It  gives  at  once  the  im- 
pression of  self-restraint,  of  conscious  strength,  of 
assured  conviction,  of  absolute  knowledge,  and  of 
great  reserve  power.  It  is  practical  in  its  purpose, 
and  so  its  methods  are  distinctively  and  emphati- 
cally practical.  It  deals  with  the  greatest  subjects, 
and  it  soars  to  the  loftiest  heights.  But  it  never 
for  a  moment  loses  its  poise,  never  deserts  its  pur- 
pose, never  hesitates  in  its  onward  sweep.  The 
unity  of  its  various  parts  in  this  regard  is  truly 
marvellous.  Written  during  a  period  of  nearly  or 
quite  seventeen  centuries,  written  by  men  differing 
so  completely  in  education,  in  social  life,  and  in 
religious  attainment,  it  is  truly  wonderful  that  it 
should  so  completely  preserve  one  character.     It 


laS 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


has  a  pervasive  spirit,  a  unitive  principle,  and  an 
accordant  motive.     Each  man  wrote  with  the  ut- 
most spontaneity,  and  yet  all  the  writers  were  so 
controlled  as  to  secure  certain  great  ends,  preserv 
ing  unity  in  purpose  with  diversity  of  method.     In 
this  particular  is  clearly  shown  the  superintending 
Spirit  of  God.     Each  writer  wrote  along  his  own 
lines,  developing  his  own  peculiarities,  and  yet  the 
writings  of  all  conduced  to  one  great  end.     The 
purpose   of  the  Bible  is  eminently  practical,  as 
opposed  to  what  is  merely  theoretical  v  specula- 
tive.    No  writers  of  any  other  literature  1  ad  so 
many  temptations  to  indulge  in  speculative  discus- 
sion as  had  the  writers  of  the  Bible;  but  they  res- 
olutely continue  to  impress  practical  and  personal 
duties,  and  not  to  gratify  mere  curiosity.     The 
Bible  deals  with  the  greatest  of  all  conceivable 
subjects.     It  projects  it?  lofty  and  solemn  thought 
into  eternity.     It  touch  ^.  the  deepest  springs  of 
human  motives,  and  it  appeals  to  the  highest  in- 
spirations of  human  life.     It  has  its  times  of  sol- 
emn introspection,  it  has  also  its  moments  of  holy 
prospection ;  it  discusses  the  miseries  of  men  and 
the  mercies  of  God.     But  the  practical  element  is 
never  forgotten ;  it  is  always  emphasized  with  much 
pathos  and  argument.     The  most  exalted  doctrine 
is  solemnly  presented  in  its  close  relation  to  daily 

duty. 

These  affirmations  are  finely  illustrated  in  all 
which  the  Bible  tells  us  of  God.  in  His  immaculate 


■i>»=<p««»s-«!»»«»«a»'**''*'*'*^' 


;i^,ja«»««««««B««s»ww««wi*«a^«»^^ 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIIUE.  129 


)le,  and  an 
ilh  the  ut- 
rs  were  so 
Is,  preserv 
lethod.  In 
erintending 
ig  his  own 
and  yet  the 

end.     The 
)vactical,  as 

r-  specula- 
Uire  1  ad  so 
itive  discus- 
)ut  they  res- 
,nd  personal 
osity.     The 

conceivable 
;mn  thought 
t  springs  of 

highest  in- 
times  of  sol- 
lents  of  holy 
\  of  men  and 
il  element  is 
ed  with  much 
Ited  doctrine 
ition  to  daily 

strated  in  all 
is  immaculate 


holiness,  in  His  infinite  perfections,  in  His  eternal 
existence.  All  these  great  truths  are  presented, 
not  as  subjects  of  speculation,  but  in  their  relation 
to  the  practical  duties  of  life  here  and  now.  A 
similar  remark  applies  with  literality  to  all  the 
revelations  of  heaven  given  in  this  blessed  book. 
A  door  is  occasionally  opened  in  heaven  to  our 
wondering  and  admiring  eyes,  and  the  glory  of  the 
redeemed  seems  to  stream  through  this  open  door. 
Strains  from  the  unseen  choirs  beyond  greet  our 
listening  ears.  We  often  wish  that  the  Bible  had 
told  us  more  of  that  land  which  is  so  far  off  and 
yet  often  seems  so  near.  Why  should  the  state- 
ments of  the  Bible  regarding  heaven  be  for  the 
most  part  negative  rather  than  positive  ?  We  may, 
however,  be  absolutely  certain  that  there  is  as 
much  of  divine  wisdom  and  love  in  the  conceal- 
ment as  there  would  be  in  a  fuller  revealment. 
Why  do  we  know  so  little  regarding  angelic 
beings.'  What  is  their  nature.'  what  their  em- 
ployments .>  Why  does  not  the  Bible  gratify  our 
speculative  tendencies }  The  danger  is  that  even 
the  Church  would  neglect  practical  duty  while  it 
indulged  in  unwarranted  speculations.  The  angels 
rebuked  the  disciples  who  saw  Jesus  ascend,  be- 
cause they  stood  gazing  up  into  heaven,  to  the 
neglect  of  the  testimony  which  longing  hearts 
so  much  needed.  A  similar  rebuke  angels  and 
preachers  ought  now  to  give  to  some  Christians 
who  neglect  daily  service  for  men  while  they 
9 


130 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


M 


Stand  gazing  up  into  heaven  waiting  for  the  return 
of  the  Lord.  There  is  entire  certainty  that  when 
the  seal  of  silence  is  not  broken  in  the  Bible,  the 
silence  is  not  only  Silvern  but  golden  for  all  disci- 
ples of  Christ. 

This  Principix  Illu-.trated. 
The  Bible  is  strangely  silent  regarding  the  place 
of  the  burial  of  Moses.     We  may  well  be  sure  that 
there  was  entire  wisdom  in  the  selection  of  the 
place  of  that  august  burial.     Moses  did  not  live 
for  himself,  but  for  his  people.     He  was  to  sec  the 
goodly  land,  but  was  not  himself  to  enter  it.     Mar- 
vellous is  the  charm  which  the  Bible  throws  upon 
his  last  view  of  the  goodly  land  from  Mount  Pisgah. 
Yonder,  west  of  the  Jordan,  lay  that  land;  but  a 
more  glorious  land  is  soon  to  be  the  home  o   God  s 
servant  and  Israel's  leader.     There  in  the  land  o 
Moab  he  died.     Here  in  some  ravine  by  Beth-Peor 
he  was  buried ;  "  but  no  man  knoweth  of  his  sepul- 
chre unto  this  day."     And  the  children  of  Israel 
wept  for  Moses  in  the  plains  of  Moab  thirty  days. 
Legend  has  supplied  what  revelation  did  not  fur- 
nish- tradition  has  told  of  the  tears  of  the  people 
and  the  wailing  of  the  children  as  they  turned 
from  the  familiar  scenes.     It  tells  -  ^^ow  ^oses 
died  from  the  kiss  of  God.     But  regarding  all  these 
things  the  Bible  is  judiciously  silent.     No  doubt 
undue  reverence  would  have  been  given  the  grave 
of  Moses  had  its  location  been  definitely  known. 


go 
tie 


» -oil  ^fcRtI.l^.Srt*.«*^( 


F,».*SJO=..*v~».?>-.»«t«'^'^ 


r^**ii««■  *«T^»»»*»i«i*»" 


„«*#«»«(«»««»""»*'**'• 


r  the  return 
r  that  when 
e  Bible,  the 
or  all  disci- 


ng  the  place 
be  sure  that 
;tion  of  the 
did  not  live 
as  to  sec  the 
ter  it.     Mar- 
throws  upon 
:ount  Pisgah. 
land;  but  a 
ome  of  God's 
n  the  land  of 
by  Beth-Peor 
I  of  his  sepul- 
ren  of  Israel 
b  thirty  days. 
I  did  not  fur- 
of  the  people 
}  they  turned 
us  how  Moses 
rdingall  these 
It.     No  doubt 
ven  the  grave 
itely  known. 


INSTKUCnVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  HIHLE,   IJI 

The  N%  /  Testament  manifests  a  similar  reti- 
cence in  regard  to  Christ.     We  do  not  know  with 
absolute  certainty  the  day  of  the  month,  the  month 
of  the  year,  nor  the  year  of  the  world  in  which 
Christ  was  born.     Scholars  in  different  ages  and 
countries  have  selected  almo.st  every  one  of  the 
days  of  the  year  as  the  day  of  His  birth.     It  is 
almost  certain  that  it  was  not  the  2Sth  of  Decem- 
ber, and  it  is  quite  certain  that  we  are  four  or  five 
years  behind  the  proper  year  of  His  birth;  so  that 
this  present  year  ought  to  be  at  least   1903  of  the 
Christian  era.     There  is  a  strong  tendency  in  hu- 
man nature  toward  giving  undue  honor  to  times  and 
seasons.     Religious  festivals  not  appointed  by  God 
often  receive  a  devotion  denied  God's  holy  day. 
There  are  many  who  would  shrink  back  with  hor- 
ror from  certain  acts  if  committed  on  Good  Friday, 
which  they  will  commit  on  the  Lord's  day  without 
the  slightest  compunction  of  conscience. 

It  is  deeply  interesting  also  to  observe  the  reti- 
cence of  the  Bible  regarding  the  youth  of  Christ. 
From  the  time  that  He  appears  in  the  temple  at 
twelve  years  of  age,  to  the  time  when  He  enters 
upon  His  public  ministry  at  thirty,  there  is  but  one 
hint,  one  glimpse,  one  echo,  concerning  the  eigh- 
teen years  of  lowly  life,  of  patient  ser\'ice,  and  of 
holy  discipleship  in  the  obscure  village  of  Nazareth. 
When  we  contrast  the  reticence  of  the  inspired 
gospels  in  this  regard  with  the  garrulous  triviali- 
ties found  in  the  so-called  Gospels  of  the  Infancy, 


132 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


we  have  a  striking  illustration  of  the  superiority 
of  the  gospels  as  given  by  holy  men  inspired  of 
God  to  write  the  history  of  Christ,     One  needs  no 
stronger  argument  .than  the  comparison  between 
the  genuine  and  the  pseudo-gospels,  as  to  the  value 
of  inspiration.     In  these  pseudo-gospels  we  have 
prolonged  accounts  of  the  freaks  of  divine  power 
which  it  is  claimed  Jesus  manifested.     We  are  told 
that  He  made  mud  images,  spoke  to  them  a  word 
of  power,  and  that  they  became  living  beys  and 
girls.     Wc  are  told  that  when  engaged  with  Jo- 
seph the  carpenter,  His  reputed  father,  in  erecting 
houses,   He  touched  with  His  hand  beams    that 
were  too  short,  and  they  became  of  the  required 
length.     One  turns  away  with  disgust  from  the 
ridiculous  descriptions  contained  in  the  gospels 
written  by  men  uninspired  of  God.     The  profound 
silence  falling  upon  this  period  of  Christ's  life  re- 
bukes by  anticipation  the  tendency  toward  the  prac- 
tice of  Mariolatry.      There  is  not  the  slightest  doubt 
but  that  in  the  Roman  Church  to-day  the  Virgin 
Mary  often  receives  a  degree  of  homage  denied 
the  Son  of  God.     There  is  not  one  word  in  holy 
Scripture  to  justify  such  homage ;  and  there  are 
records  of  positive  rebukes  which  Christ  adminis- 
tered to  His  mother  both  before  and  after  entering 
on  His  public  ministry. 

There  is  in  the  Bible  a  similar  reticence  regard- 
ing the  personal  appearance  of  Christ.  Not  one 
word  is  said  as  to  His  height,  the  color  of  His  hair 


e  superiority 
L  inspired  of 
Dne  needs  no 
ison  between 
5  to  the  value 
pels  we  have 
divine  power 

We  are  told 
them  a  word 
ng  beys  and 
igedwith  Jo- 
r,  in  erecting 

beams  that 
the  required 
List  from  the 

the  gospels 
The  profound 
irist's  life  re- 
vard  the  prac- 
lightest  doubt 
ly  the  Virgin 
)mage  denied 

word  in  holy 
ind  there  are 
irist  adminis- 
after  entering 

icence  regard- 
ist.  Not  one 
ior  of  His  hair 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.   133 

and  eyes,  or  as  to  any  of  His  features.  This  ab- 
sence is  truly  remarkable ;  it  seems  to  set  aside  all 
the  natural  instincts  of  His  devout  followers  and 
of  His  inspired  evangelists.  We  know  that  noth- 
ing more  interests  average  hearers  or  readers  than 
accounts  of  the  personal  characteristics  of  leaders 
of  thought,  representatives  of  fashion,  authors  of 
movements,  and  founders  of  religion.  Why  is  the 
Bible  so  strangely  silent  on  all  these  topics.?  We 
are  not  to  know  Christ  after  the  flesh ;  we  are  to 
know  Him  in  a  higher,  a  holier,  and  a  diviner  re- 
lation. Mr.  Walters,  in  his  little  volume  entitled 
"  Claims  of  the  Bible,"  quotes  Mrs.  Jameson  and 
Lady  Eastlake,  who  give  this  explanation  of  the 
silence  of  the  evangelists  regarding  the  personal 
appearance  of  Christ :  "  He  whom  all  races  were 
to  call  Brother,  was  not  to  be  too  closely  associated 
with  the  particular  lineaments  of  any  one  race. 
East  and  West,  Byzantium  and  Rome,  Spain,  Italy, 
Germany,  and  every  Christian  nation  might  imag- 
ine the  form  of  the  Son  of  Man  not  altogether  un- 
accordant  with  their  respective  ideas  of  beauty, 
dignity,  and  love."  No  doubt  there  is  force  in 
this  explanation.  Christ  was  to  be  the  brother  of 
every  believer.  He  may  be  more  to  every  woman 
now  than  He  was  to  His  own  mother,  except  so 
far  as  she  believed  in  Him  as  her  Lord ;  and  more 
to  every  man  than  He  was  to  His  own  brothers, 
except  so  far  as  they  believed  in  Him  as  their 
divine  Saviour. 


.- 


1^ 


I 


»iS5aiWS5^i®3*»^ 


134 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


One  is  struck  also  by  the  remarkable  reticeuce 
of  the  Bible  regarding  the  mysterious  experiences 
of  Lazarus  during  the  four  days  that  he  spent  in 
the  grave.  Why  \vas  he  thus  silent?  How  the 
village  folk  would  have  gathered  about  him  had  he 
talked  of  the  wonderful  experiences  through  which 
he  may  have  passed.  He  might  have  been  the 
wonder  of  the  entire  country,  calling  attention  to 
himself,  rather  than  giving  honor  to  his  Lord. 
Tennyson,  in  his  "  In  Memoriam,  "  gives  us  a  won- 
derful picture  of  how  the  neighbors  met  from 
house  to  house,  how  the  streets  were  filled  with 
joyful  sound,  how  a  solemn  gladness  crowned  the 
purple  brows  of  Olivet,  as  the  people  gazed  upon 
a  man  raised  up  by  Christ.  But  all  else  remains 
unrevealed;  "something  sealed  the  lips  of  that 
evangelist." 

A  similar  illustration  of  the  reticence  and  of  the 
practicality  of  Biblical  teaching  is  seen  in  the  meth- 
od of  the  apostles  in  discussing  their  own  exalted 
experience,  and  in  their  treatment  of  profound  doc- 
trines. Nowhere  outside  the  Bible  can  be  found 
a  nobler  specimen  of  literature  in  the  discussion 
of  a  great  doctrine  than  the  apostle  Paul  has  given 
us  in  his  teaching  of  the  resurrection  in  i  Cor.  xv. 
This  chapter  will  ever  hold  its  place  in  the  front 
rank  of  the  divinest  elements  of  inspired  literature. 
We  have  here  a  connected,  elaborate,  and  unan- 
swerable argument  for  the  doctrine  of  the  resur- 
rection— the  very  foundation- truth  of  Christianity. 


)le  reticence 
experiences 
he  spent  in 
?  How  the 
t  him  had  he 
irough  which 
ve  been  the 
;  attention  to 
to  his  Lord, 
ves  us  a  won- 
rs  met  from 
■e  filled  with 
crowned  the 
e  gazed  upon 
else  remains 
lips   of  that 

ice  and  of  the 
1  in  the  meth- 
•  own  exalted 
srcfound  doc- 
can  be  found 
he  discussion 
aul  has  given 
in  I  Cor.  xv. 

in  the  front 
red  literature, 
e,  and  unan- 
of  the  resur- 

Christianity. 


INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.   13S 

We  have  here  resistless  logic,  majestic  rhetoric, 
and  lofty  emotion  in  rhythmical  expression.     This 
chapter  is  an  oratorio  of  triumph.     It  is  resplen- 
dent as  a  gleam  of  light  from  heaven ;  it  is  musical 
as  a  strain  from  angelic  harps ;  it  is  rhetorically, 
musically,  and  spiritually  inspiring  and  sublime. 
We  have  in  this   chapter  inimitable   beauty  of 
thought,  together  with  unequalled  power  of  argu- 
ment.     But  the  apostle  turns  at  once  from  sublime 
doctrine  to  practical  duty.      The  chapter  marries 
doctrine  and  duty.     This  glorious  chapter  closes 
with  the  words,  "  Therefore,  my  beloved  brethren, 
be  ye  steadfast,  unmovable,  always  abounding  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  ye  know  that 
your  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord."     There  is 
thus  evermore  a  practical  application  in  all  the 
apostle's  greatest  arguments.     His  discussion  of 
his  own  wonderful  visions  and  revelations  from  the 
Lord  follows  the  same  method  of  teaching.     On 
this   occasion  he  was  in  a  condition  of   literal 
ecstasy,  not  knowing  whether  he  was  m  the  body 
or  out  of  the  br  \y ;  he  was  as  one  caught  up  to 
the  third  heaven.     Observe  his  remarkable  and 
commendable  reticence  regarding  these  marvellous 
experiences.     Put  over  against  his  sublime  reti- 
cence the  puerile  loquacity  of  Mohammed  when 
describing   his  pretended   exaltation  and  divine 
revelation.     No  doubt  Mohammed's  epilepsy  had 
not  a  little  to  do  with  his  visions.     No  doubt  he 
was  at  times  moved  with  a  rapturous  vehemence 


13* 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


of  emotion.     No  doubt  his  whole  frame  was  vio- 
lently swept  with  paroxysms  during  these  experi- 
ences ;  and  no  doubt  he  even  seemed  to  hear  strange 
voices  impelling  him  to  noble  services.     But  his 
garrulity  reduces  all  to  puerility  compared  with  the 
noble  silence,  the  majestic  reticence  of  the  apos- 
tle to  the  Gentiles.     In  all  this  apostle's  allusions 
to  paradise  he  makes  it  not  a  theme  for  personal 
discussion  nor  to  gratify  vain  curiosity,  but  he 
mentions  it  only  to  commend  his  apostleship  to 
those  who  called  it  in  question.     He  used  this  ex- 
alted experience  merely  to  advance  the  cause  to 
which  he  had  consecrated  his  life.     He  had  not 
desired  to  attract  attention  to  himself;    but  his 
whole  purpose  was  to  honor  his  Lord  and  Master 
and  to  advance  the  ca'jse  of  truth  among  men. 

Not  otherwise  was  it  with  the  apostle  Peter,  in 
the  description  which  he  gives  of  that  great  and 
awful  time  when  the  heavens  shall  be  rolled  to- 
gether as  a  scroll,  and  when  the  Lord  shall  come 
as  a  thief  in  the  night.     There  were  abundant  op- 
portunities in  these  allusions  for  gratification  of 
curiosity,  speculation,  and  selfish  ambition.     We 
ask  speculative  questions  to  this  hour  regarding  all 
these  events.     We  cannot  hold  the  thought  of  the 
people  to  practical  duty  when  speculations  of  this 
character  are  rife  in  the  community.     But  although 
the  apostle  Peter  is  discussing  these  tremendous 
events— events  which  have  occupied  the  thought 
of  modern  science  as  well  as  spiritual  theology— 


me  was  vio- 
hese  cxperi- 
hear  strange 
es.  But  his 
ared  with  the 

of  the  apos- 
le's  allusions 

for  personal 
»sity,  but  he 
postleship  to 
used  this  ex- 
the  cause  to 

He  had  not 
jelf;  but  his 
i  and  Master 
long  men. 
)stle  Peter,  in 
liat  great  and 
[  be  rolled  to- 
rd  shall  come 

abundant  op- 
;ratification  of 
mbition.  We 
r  regarding  all 
thought  of  the 
lations  of  this 

But  although 
se  tremendous 
d  the  thought 
lal  theology — 


'^INSTRUCTIVE  RETICENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.   137 

he  turns  immediately  from  the  majestic  description 
which  he  has  given,  to  the  practical  duty  he  de- 
sires to  emphasize,  saying :  "  Seeing  then  that  all 
these  things  shall  be  dissolved,  what  manner  of 
persons  ought  ye  to  be  in  all  holy  conversation 
and  godliness"  (2  Peter  iii.  11). 

This  method  of  teaching  is  never  forgotten  in 
any  part  of  the  New  Testament.     All  contained 
in  the  Scripture  has  its  practical  uses.     This  state- 
ment is  true  even  of  the  long  genealogies  which 
often  excite  the  amusement  of  thoughtless  readers 
of  the  New  Testament.     These  genealogies  estab- 
lished the  family  relationship  of  great   historic 
characters;  they  also  often  proved  the  fulfilment 
of  solemn  and  glorious  prophecies.     Probably  no 
part  of  our  body  is  meaningless ;  it  has  its  place 
in  the  economy  of  our  physical  life  and  growth. 
Not  otherwise  is  it  with  all  parts  of  the  Word  of 
God.     Let  us  learn  the  lesson  in  our  Christian  ex- 
perience taught  by  this  method  of  Biblical  revela- 
tion.    Let  us  rejoice  that  doctrines  are  the  foun- 
dation of  practice,  and  that  all  true  doctrine  should 
be  incarnated  in  daily  duty.     Thus  it  will  be  seen 
that  every  part  of  God's  Word  is  of  immediate 
service  in  the  development  of  the  Christian  life. 
Let  us  rejoice  in  all  the  revelations  of  God's  holy 
book,  and  let  us  see  also  that,  as  in  experience,  in 
oratory,  in  authorship,  often  the  strongest  elements 
of  character  are  seen  in  reticence  rather  than  in 
expression,  so  the  fullest  proofs  of  revelation  are 


r 


I 


.,jM^a>ffllii8teiJ*J!*r8feMW»WJ><ailV»rMt^«*»'- 


138 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


often  to  be  seen  in  the  silences  rather  than  in  the 
utterances  of  God.  Christ  dared  to  be  silent  in 
the  presence  of  His  foes;  so  the  Bible  often  dares 
to  be  silent  in  the  presence  of  its  bitterest  critics. 
It  is  still  true,  and  will  be  true  evermore,  that 
while  speech  is  often  silvern,  silence  is  often 
golden 


than  in  the 
be  silent  in 
often  dares 
irest  critics, 
irmore,  that 
ce   is  often 


THE  COMPASSIONATE   SPIRIT  OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


j^iaaill}Siii^aiSSIWMSi«*jeSfc«S!i<i*S;A>4»Jjit'-«^ 


;iU 


'1 


VIII. 
The  Compassionate  Spirit  of  the  Bible. 

It  has  been  suggested  that  if  the  Bible  were  en- 
tirely lost,  all  its  parts  could  be  rediscovered  and 
reunited,  because  every  verse  has  been  quoted  by 
writers  whose  works  are  accessible.     The  further 
suggestion  has  been  made  that  if  the  Bible  were 
lost,  many  of  the  greatest  books,  paintings,  sculp- 
tures,  and  oratorios  would  be   comparatively   if 
not  largely  meaningless.     It  is  probably  true  that 
every  text  and  verse  in  the  Bible  has  been  quoted 
either  in  books  of  devotion  or  theology  or  in  those 
of  poetry  and  fiction.     We  have  only  to  imagine 
for  a  moment  that  the  entire  book  had  utterly 
perished  as  a  book,  and  its  various  texts  from  the 
different  connections  in  which  they  are  found ;  and 
it  is  easy  to  see  how  vast  a  portion  of  literature 
would  thus  be  worthless.     We  cannot  read  even  a 
few  pages  of  any  standard  work  without  coming  to 
some  direct  or  indirect  allusion  to  the  holy  Scrip- 
tures.    If  all  knowledge  of  these  Scriptures  were 
utterly  lost,  many  of  the  sweetest  and  sublimest 
passages  of  Shakespeare  would  be  forceless  if  not 
entirely  meaningless.     A  similar  remark  would 
apply  to  the  noble  strains  of  Milton,  as  he  lifts  us 
on  the  wings  of  literary  genius  and  poetic  inspira- 


•  ■^fim^e&i\si!0i»mi»»ft»'imiM-:fsi»iiti^-df~i<»ii>s^^ 


14* 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


.-       t.  the  very  throne  of  God.     Many  cf  the 

\A  he  obscure  if  not  unmeaning.     The  tact  is 
would  be  oDscuic  iiihle   have 

.i,at  the  thought  and  speech  of  the  Bible   nav 

chapters  in  our  inquiry  concerning  the  Bible 

literature.  .    i    i^^*  tVi<>r«*  would 

T^nt  if  the  Bible  were  entirely  lost,  there  woui 

chiefly  literary.    A  ^^'^f^'"'}''^      ^.. ,    j,  ti,e  chief 

source.     L-reation  auu  rr>rT<i  lovine 

sions.  nianifest^ons  — ^^^^^^  a 

thoughts  to  men.     The  w^o  ^^^^^  .^  ^^^  ^^^^ 
thought  of  God,   the  wn  ^^.^  ^^.^ 

thought  materialized.     The  stais 
•     «■  fv.niicrhts  the  mountains  His  louy  v»"  & 

contradictory  voices,  at  least  accorm  g 
pretation  of  those  voices;  somet  mes  .t  tel 

sunshine,  of  ^f'^^^^^^^f^^^^^^  toward 

times  it  speaks  ^^  ^od  s/p^',^,,  .Blanche  and 
™en.     Nature  crushes  life  m  the  ^^^  ^^ 

hurls  men,  animals,  and  all  the  worK 


Many  ci  the 
:ome  onigmas; 
George  EUot, 
id   Longfellow 
r.     The  fact  is 
he  Bible  have 
iture,  painting, 
ater  see  full  il- 
udy  subsequent 
g  the  Bible  and 

ost,  there  would 
L  that  which  was 
uld  be  that  of  the 
Bible  is  the  chief 

are  but  expres- 
s  of  God's  loving 
;arth  was  once  a 
th  is  now  God's 
s  are  God's  bril- 
ls lofty  thoughts, 
hts ;  this  creation 
to  every  listening 

nature  speaks  in 
Drding  to  our  inter- 
times  it  tells  us  of 
love;  but  at  other 
jent  wrath  toward 
the  avalanche  and 
3  works  of  men  to 


COMPASSIOXATK  S/'/A'/T  OF  THE  lUIU.E.    143 

destruction  in  the  cyclone;    in   like   manner   all 
forms  of  life  are  ruthlessly  trodden  down  by  the 
resistless  power  of  the  tornado.     Nature  alone  can 
scarcely  be  called  a  message  of  God's  love  toward 
the   creatures  whom   He  has  made   in  Ifis  own 
image.     Doubtless  if  we  could  understand  nature's 
deepest  thought  we  should  discover  that  it  is  truly 
Uie  voice  of  love ;  but  judging  from  its  most  ap- 
parent teaching,  it  is  as  often  the  voice  of  wrath 
as  it  is  of  love.     We  need  then  a  fuller  revelation 
of  God  in  order  to  catch  the  tender  tones  of  His 
fatherly  heart.      God's   book   of   creation   shows 
God's  hand;    God's  book  of  revelation  manifests 
God's  heart.     In  this  latter  book  His  heart  voices 
His  deepest  thoughts,  so  fur  as  they  can  be  re- 
ceived by  finite  creatures.     In  the  Bible   He  is 
represented  as  pitying  His  children  even  as  does 
an  earthly  father;    and  He  is  also  described  as 
comforting  them  even  like  a  mother.     All  the  ten- 
dcrest  relations  of  life  are  employed  in  the  effort 
to  express  His  incomprehensible  love.     The  apos- 
tle Paul  prays  that  we  may  know  the  love  of  Christ ; 
in  the  next  breath  he  affirms  that  such  love  entirely 
passeth  human  knowledge.     In  the  Bible  we  feel 
the  pulse- beat  and  hear  the  heart-throb  of  God. 
His  voice  is  heard  alike  in  promise  and  warning, 
and  it  is  equally  a  voice  of  love,  whatever  tone,  for 
the  time,  it  assumes.     The  brakeman  rushing  down 
the  track  swinging  his  red  lantern  of  warning  to 
protect  the  approaching  train  from  an  open  switch 


* 


^ 


I 


■ 


'ijssews'wswesw'iwoassifaffe'j'^^sji*! 


144 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


or  bridge  performs  an  act  of  love  in  its  deepest 
meaning.  Not  otherwise  docs  the  prophet  or 
psalmist,  the  disciple  or  apostle  speak  in  the  Word 
of  God,  whether- he  pronounces  God's  solemn 
warnings  against  the  sinner  or  Mis  fearful  admoni- 
tions against  sin.  The  Bible  offers  pardon  to  the 
guilty,  it  promiiies  profound  peace  to  the  troubled, 
it  assures  the  sorrowing  that  joy  will  succeed  grief, 
and  it  gives  cleansing  to  the  sinful  and  life  to  the 
dying  and  the  dead. 

The  Bible  addresses  the  children  of  men  ever- 
more as  sinners.     Its  enforcement  of  God's  law  is 
stringent  and  apparently  severe ;  and  yet  its  com- 
passions never  fail  in  the  case  of  all  who  are  peni- 
tent.    From  patriarchal  altars  the  voice  of  mercy 
sounded  forth  in  tones  of  deepest  tenderness  and 
heavenly  gentleness.     Along    the    whole   line  of 
Christian  revelation  we  see  God  manifesting  the 
spirit  of  compassion,  as  men  were  able  to  receive 
that  spirit.     God  was  restricted  simply  because  of 
man's  incapacity  to  receive  the  fulness  of  His  love 
and  the  completeness  of  His  mercy. 

The  Spirit  op  the  Hour. 
We  have  heard  much  in  these  latter  days  of  the 
spirit  of  altruism.  This  term  was  coined,  or  at 
least  was  first  employed,  by  the  Positivists,  or  fol- 
lowers of  the  French  philosopher  Comte ;  it  signi- 
fies devotion  to  others  or  to  humanity  as  a  whole, 
and  is  thus  the  opposite  of  selfishness.     It  is,  if 


1  its  deepest 
I  prophet  or 
:  in  the  Word 
lod's  solemn 
urful  admoni- 
pardon  to  the 
i  the  troubled, 
succeed  grief, 
ind  life  to  the 

1  of  men  cver- 
f  God's  law  is 
:1  yet  its  com- 
who  arc  pcni- 
^oice  of  mercy 
enderness  and 
whole   line  of 
lanifesting  the 
iblc  to  receive 
iply  because  of 
ess  of  His  love 


3UR. 

tter  days  of  the 
,s  coined,  or  at 
sitivists,  or  fol- 
omte;  it  signi- 
lity  as  a  whole, 
iness.     It  is,  if 


coMrAssroxATic  sp/A'/r  or  the  inn  i.e.  ms 

one  may  so  say,  "ojherism  "  as  opposed  to  selfism. 
\Vc  have  reason  for  profound  gratitude  that  tiiis 
spirit  is  in  no  small  degree  cliaractcristic  of  the 
close  of  the  nineteenth  century.     Many  persons 
rejoice  in  the  system  of  altruism  who  utterly  deny 
the  divine  fountain  whence  it  flows.     Hut  for  the 
revelation  of  God  in  Christ  and  the  record  of  that 
revelation  in  the  liible,  the  spirit  of  altruism  as  a 
characteristic  of  modern  civilization  would  be  sim- 
ply impossible.     There  are  many  outside  of  the 
Church  who  oppose  Christ  and  the  Church,  affirm- 
ing that  neither  is  necessary  to  the  development 
of  the  noblest  instincts  of  the  race.      Men  occupy- 
ing this  position  are  like  those  who  have  climbed  a 
tree  by  means  of  a  ladder,  and  then  despise  the  lad- 
der while  they  enjoy  the  fruits  of  the  tree.     Such 
persons  are  utterly  unhistorical,  illogical,  and  un- 
just.    Jesus  Christ  was  the  first  great  altruist  the 
world  ever  knew;    He  is  stil!   the  world's  ideal 
altruist.     He  must  ever  so  remain.     He  had  no 
self-love.     He  knew  Himself  only  as  obedient  to 
God  and  as  ministrant  to  men.     His  life  projected 
itself  into  every  noble  life,  and  His  love  inspires 
every  brave,  manly,  and  unselfish  heart.     It  is  as 
unjust  in  thought  as  it  is  untrue  in  fact  to  suppose 
that  this  altruistic  spirit  could  be  found  in  the 
world  were  it  not  for  Christ,  its  great  Author  and 
Revealer.     Socrates  was  said  to  have  brought  down 
philosophy  from  heaven  to  earth;   but  of  Jesus 
Christ  it  may  be  said  that  He  brings  us  up  from 

lO 


« 


; 


g^ae?:?;3e?^.«w  v.-' 35  ^■■■''pvr 


146 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


earth  to  heaven  by  the  divine  pl^ilo^oph^'  the 
heavenly  love,  and  the  altruistic  spirit  which  He 
illustrated  in  His  own  life,  and  which  He  imparts 
to  those  who  have  by  personal  experience  entered 

into  that  life.  .      ,       , 

Akin  to  the  altruism  of  which  mention  has  been 
made,  and  as  a  fuller  manifestation  of  its  spirit   is 
the  spirit  of  brotherhood  which  belongs  to  our  day. 
The  note  of  brotherhood  gives  sweet  music  to  the 
oratorio  of  humanity  as  the  century  is  nearing  its 
close.     But  for  the  spirit  of  brotherhood  America 
never  would  have  championed  the  cause  of  Cuba. 
The  war  with  Spain  was  a  war  between  the  six- 
teenth century  and  the  twentieth  century.     It  was 
a  war  between  tyranny  and  liberty.     It  was  a  war 
between  illiteracy,  bigotry,  and  superstition  on  the 
one  side,  and  intelligence,  liberty,  and  religion  on 
the  other  side.     It  was  a  war  between  the  Inquisi- 
tion of  Torquemada  and  the  Constitution  of  Amer- 
ica.    America  rose  in  her  might  to  de  end  the 
cause  of  the  downtrodden.     The  nations  of  Europe 
could  not  understand  how  any  nation  could  enter 
into  war  except  for  personal  and  selfish  aggrandize- 
ment     As  a  consequence,   the   motives   of  the 
Americans  were  misinterpreted  and  their  actions 
misconstrued.     Their  purpose  was  high  and  holy ; 
their  war  was  one  of  humanity,  of  compassion,  of 

brotherhood. 

America  illustrated  in  some  measure  the  com- 
passionate spirit  of  Je^s  Christ.     The  spint  of 


;i( 


ihilosophy,  the 
pirit  which  He 
,ch  He  imparts 
erience  entered 

ention  has  been 
I  of  its  spirit,  is 
longs  to  our  day. 
:et  music  to  the 
ry  is  nearing  its 
lerhood  America 

cause  of  Cuba, 
between  the  six- 
century.     It  was 
y.     It  was  a  war 
iperstition  on  the 
r,  and  religion  on 
ween  the  Inquisi- 
titution  of  Amer- 
ht  to  defend  the 
nations  of  Europe 
lation  could  enter 
selfish  aggrandize- 
;  motives   of  the 

and  their  actions 
vas  high  and  holy ; 

of  compassion,  of 

measure  the  com- 
ist.     The  spirit  of 


COMPASSIONATE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  BIBLE.    147 

Christ  is  incarnated  in  the  Bible,  Even  in  the  Old 
Testament  itself  Judaism  manifested  a  compassion 
far  in  advance  of  the  heathenism  by  which  it  was 
surrounded.  The  Old  Testament  inculcated  love 
to  the  stranger.  When  Christ  taught  His  great 
precepts,  He  gave  a  manifestation  of  divine  com- 
passion such  as  the  world  previously  had  not  con- 
ceived. His  Golden  Rule  is  fitted  to  revolutionize 
all  society,  to  remodel  all  social  relations,  and 
largely  to  divinize  humanity  as  a  whole.  The 
Golden  Rule  is  the  highest  law  of  etiquette  ever 
foiuiulated  and  promulgated  among  men. 

Christ's  first  sermon  in  the  synagogue  in  Naza- 
reth, where  He  was  brought  up,  lays  down  princi- 
ples as  revolutionary  in  their  application  as  they 
are  divine  in  their  origin.  One  cannot  but  regret 
that  only  a  single  sentence  of  that  sermon  is 
recorded  on  the  pages  of  holy  Scripture.  That 
sentence  is  in  these  words,  "  This  day  is  this  Scrip- 
ture fulfilled  in  your  ears."  In  that  sermon  we  see 
that  Christianity  is  a  religion  intended  for  the 
poor,  that  it  is  fitted  to  heal  the  broken-hearted,  to 
give  deliverance  to  the  captives,  recovery  of  sight 
to  the  blind,  comfort  for  the  bruised,  and  hope  for 
all  classes  and  conditions  of  men.  In  Christ  was 
fulfilled  the  golden  prophecies  of  Isaiah  made  hun- 
dreds of  years  before.  Every  fiftieth  year,  under 
the  old  dispensation,  liberty  was  proclaimed  to  all 
the  people,  forfeited  estates  were  restored,  and 
debts  were  cancelled.     Christ's   Gospel  was  the 


\ 


\ 


\ 


-  f, 

I 

i 
I 


3SKa5s^3;ca?s5a«s!!S!'B?" 


TTwrwfrrrsswT?! 


i 


148 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


I 


^!i    A 


declaration  of  a  spiritual    jubilee;    He  offered 
eternal  redemption,  proclaiming  forgiveness,  lib- 
erty, and  restoration.     It  is  not  surprising  that  all 
the  people  in  the  synagogue  fixed  their  eyes  upon 
Him      Well  might  they  "  wonder  at  the  gracious 
words  which  proceeded  out  of  His  mouth."     These 
were  words  of  peculiar  sweetness,  of  pervasive 
power,  and  of  divine  beneficence.     It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  if  the  spirit  of  the  text  which 
He  used  on  that  occasion  were  incarnated  in  busi- 
ness, social,  and  church  relations,  the  whole  world 
would  be  revolutionized  speedily.     All  the  noblest 
principles  of  sociology  as  they  are  illustrated  to- 
day by  the  most  benevolent  teachers  and  beneficent 
friends  of  the  poor  are  found  in  these  germinal 
words.     Christ,  in  His  compassionate  spirit,  put 
hope  into  the  poor  man's  life.     A  king  of  France 
said  that  he  would  put  a  pair  of  chickens  into  every 
poor  man's  pot.     Jesus  Christ  did  more  than  make 
gifts  to  the  poor.     He  recognized  the  poor  man  s 
manhood  as  well  as  the  poor  man's  poverty.     He 
was  the  poor  man's  best  friend.     The  beads  of 
sweat  produced  by  honest  toil  stood  upon  His  own 
brow      He  was  the  only  Man  ever  born  into  this 
world  who  had  His  choice  as  to  how  He  should 
come.     He  might  have  come  a  full-grown  man.  as 
did  the  first  Adam;  He  chose  to  come  in  all  the 
weakness  and  helplessness  of  a  babe.     He  might 
have  come  in  all  the  splendor  and  pageantry  of  an 
earthly  king;  He  chose  to  come  in  poverty,  in 


!/ 


\\    ■! 


sr^ptwa^jtrew^^*^^^*^ 


COMPAS'^^ONATF.  SPIRIT  OF  THE  PIP  IE.    149 


;    He  offered 
rgiveiiess,  lib- 
prising  that  all 
;heir  eyes  upon 
at  the  gracious 
louth."     These 
5,  of  pervasive 
It  is  not  too 
the  text  which 
irnated  in  busi- 
the  whole  world 
All  the  noblest 
e  illustrated  to- 
s  and  beneficent 
these  germinal 
anate  spirit,  put 
L  king  of  France 
ckens  into  every 
more  than  make 
I  the  poor  man's 
's  poverty.     He 
The  beads  of 
od  upon  His  own 
;r  born  into  this 

0  how  He  should 
lU-grown  man,  as 

1  come  in  all  the 
babe.  He  might 
i  pageantry  of  an 
le  in  poverty,  in 


lowliness,  in  gentleness.  It  is  difficult  for  us  to 
realize  what  an  element  of  power  there  is  in  this 
feature  of  His  life  in  its  relations  to  the  poor  in 
our  day.  He  inserted  Himself  into  the  race  at  its 
lowest  and  weakest  point.  He  is  the  Inspiration 
of  every  humble  life,  the  Light  in  every  lowly 
heart,  and  the  Hope  of  humanity  in  all  its  various 
needs,  longings,  and  aspirations. 

His  Compassionate  Acts. 

To  Christ  we  are  indebted  for  the  story  of  the 
Good  Samaritan.  His  entire  ministry  was  in  the 
spirit  of  that  narrative.  He  taught  men  to  return 
blessing  for  cursing.  His  life  was  the  incarnation 
of  a  selfless  soul.  Compared  with  Him,  all  other 
.  unders  of  religions,  all  other  teachers  of  philos- 
pale  into  shadows.  We  have  only  to  think 
X  !  ■  a  relations  to  the  dead  maid,  the  daughter  of 
the  ruler  of  the  synagogue,  to  realize  the  compas- 
sionateness  of  His  spirit  and  the  sympathy  of  His 
acts.  See  Him  as  with  His  disciples  He  ap- 
proaches the  gate  of  Nain !  A  funeral  procession 
is  leaving  the  village  as  Christ  and  His  disciples 
arrive.  The  evangelist  Luke  paints  the  picture  of 
the  chief  mourner  with  two  suggestive  touches  of 
his  inspired  brush.  This  woman  had  followed  a 
bier  to  the  tomb  on  a  former  occasion.  Doubtless 
she  had  expected  to  lean  upon  the  strong  arm  of 
this  son  in  her  advancing  years;  and  now  he  is 
taken  from  her,     With  one  touch  of  the  brush  we 


ISO 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


.  1      :l" 


are  taught  that  the  dead  man  was  "  the  only  son  of 
his  mother,"  and  with  another  dash  of  the  brush 
the  picture  of  her  sorrow  is  complete  as  we  are 
informed  that  "  she  was  a  widow."     Mourning  for 
an  only  son  was  proverbially  bitter.     The  original 
words  here  show  that  this  young  man  was  not  only 
the  only  son  she  then  had,  but  the  only  one  she  ever 
had      No  wonder  we  read  of  our  Lord  that  "  He 
had  compassion  on  her."     Great  must  have  been 
her  surprise  when  she  heard  the  voice  of  a  stranger 
addressing  her  in  her  grief.      But  as  she  looked  up 
through  her  tears,  she  must  have  seen  in  His  beau- 
tiful face  indications  of  the  love  of  His  compas- 
sionate  spirit.     "Weep  not,"    He  adds.      Such 
words  spoken  by  the  lips  of  earthly  comforters  are 
often  meaningless;  but  they  are  now  spoken  by 
Him  who  shall  one  day  wipe  away  all  tears  from 
all  eyes.     Tn  a  moment  more  His  voice  is  heard 
saying,  "  Young  man,  I  say  unto  thee,  arise!  "  and 
it  is  then  added,  "  He  that  was  dead  sat  up  and 
began  to  speak."     How  marvellous  was  that  mo- 
ment; how  unspeakable  the  joy  of  that  widowed 
mother;  how  compassionate  the  heart  of  this  di- 
vine Redeemer! 

Were  we  to  follow  Him  to  Bethany  and  to  wit- 
ness His  kindness  to  Martha  and  Mary  and  His 
almightiness  in  calling  Lazarus  back  from  the 
grave  to  earth  and  life,  we  should  again  be  im- 
pressed with  the  compassionateness  of  His  divine- 
human  spirit.     To  Him  childhood  ran  with  confi- 


11 


ZV^T.'"^'  ^^■MJi'm* 


he  only  son  of 
of  the  brush 
lete  as  we  are 
Mourning  for 
The  original 
n  was  not  only 
ly  one  she  ever 
Lord  that  "  He 
uist  have  been 
;e  of  a  stranger 
5  she  looked  up 
m  in  His  beau- 
f  His  compas- 
2  adds.      Such 
■  comforters  are 
now  spoken  by 
'  all  tears  from 
)  voice  is  heard 
lee,  arise ! "  and 
lead  sat  up  and 
us  was  that  mo- 
)f  that  widowed 
leart  of  this  di- 

lany  and  to  wit- 
i  Mary  and  His 
back  from  the 
Id  again  be  im- 
ss  of  His  divine- 
d  ran  with  confi- 


COMPASSIOUATE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  BIBLE.    Igl 

dence,  affection,  and  devotion;  to  Him  blindness 
rolled  its  sightless  eyeballs  when  its  quickened  ear 
heard  His  approaching  footsteps;  before  Him  de- 
moniacs came,  and  soon  at  His  feet  they  were  sit- 
ting clothed  and  in  their  right  mind.  In  the 
woman  who  was  a  sinner  the  Pharisees  saw  only 
the  sinner,  but  in  the  sinner  who  was  still  a  woman 
the  compassionate  Christ  saw  chiefly  the  woman. 

The  Bible  and  this  Spirit. 

The  Bible,  which  is  the  revelr.cion  of  the  salva- 
tion of  Jesus  Christ,  is  also  a  revelation  of  His 
compassionate  spirit  and  methods.     The  Bible  is 
the  friend  of  the  poor.      Again  and  again  it  com- 
mands all  God's  people  to  remember  the  poor.     It 
makes  great  and  precious  promises  to  those  who 
are  obedient   in   this   regard;    it    utters    severe 
rebukes  toward  those  who  forget  the  claims  of 
God  by  forgetting  their  duty  to  their  fellow-men. 
There  can  be  no  true  brotherhood  of  man  except 
as  there  is  a  true  fatherhood  of  God.     It  is  impos- 
sible for  us  rightly  to  love  God  whom  we  have  not 
seen,  except  as  we  truly  love  our  brother  whom  we 
have  seen.     God  judges  of  our  purpose  toward 
Himself  by  our  conduct  toward  those  whom  in  His 
name  we  might  help.     Neglect  of  them  is  in  some 
measure  neglect  of  Him.     The  Bible  has  mani- 
fasted  this  spirit  in  all  its  relations  with  every  na- 
tion where  its  truths  are  loved  and  obeyed.     To 
the  spirit  of  this  holy  book,  as  it  incarnates  and 


*!n*rn«KarflB»» 


W" 


is« 


r/fE  OLD  BOOK, 


y\ 


declares  the  spirit  of  its  holy  Author,  are  we  m- 
debted  for  the  noblest  forms  of  charity.     Heathen- 
ism built  but  few  almshouses,  hospitals,  orphan- 
ages, or  charitable  houses  of  any  kind.     One  turns 
with  pity  and  indignation  to  the  cruelties  mani- 
fested by  heathen  nations  toward  the  aged  and  the 
poor      The  cruelty  of  the  Romans  toward  slaves 
almost  surpasses  belief  and  quite  beggars  descrip- 
tion     Even  Cicero  apologizes  for  showing  mercy 
to  a  slave  of  whom  he  was  fond.     We  have  only 
to  pronounce  the  name  of  Domitius  to  be  reminded 
that  in  the  palmy  days  of  Rome  the  life  of  a  slave 
was  more  lightly  esteemed  than  that  of  a  favorite 
dog  or  other  domestic  animal.     We  have  only  to 
remember  that  an  island  in  the  Tiber  was  used  as 
a  home  for  the  poor  and  the  aged,  where  they  were 
left  to  die  by  exposure  to  heat  and  cold  or  by  star- 
vation.    The  spirit  of  heathenism  was  harsh,  cold, 
and  utterly  cruel.     Christianity  came  as  the  breath 
of  spring  to  a  world  that  was  thus  old,  cold,  and 
cruel      With  the  coming  of  Christianity  the  flow- 
ers of  love  bloomed,  and  the  deeds  of  kindness 
abounded.     Christianity  was  a  beautiful  maiden, 
crushing  with  her  gentle  but  firm  foot  every  nox- 
ious plant,  and  casting  with  her  loving  hand  into 
the  waiting  earth  the  seeds  which  soon  grew  into 
plants  of  kindness,  beauty,  and  love.     The  spirit  of 
the  Bible  necessitated  to  a  very  great  degree  a  new 
terminology  in  the  language  of  Greece  and  Rome. 
-     Although  Greek  is  the  most  philosophically  accu- 


ii- 


thor,  are  we  in- 
ity.  Heathen- 
ispitals,  orphan- 
nd.  One  turns 
cruelties  mani- 
he  aged  and  the 
s  toward  slaves 
beggars  descrip- 

showing  mercy 

We  have  only 
s  to  be  reminded 
he  life  of  a  slave 
nat  of  a  favorite 
A^e  have  only  to 
iber  was  used  as 

where  they  were 
d  cold  or  by  star- 
1  was  harsh,  cold, 
ame  as  the  breath 
HIS  old,  cold,  and 
stianity  the  flow- 
eeds  of  kindness 
oeautiful  maiden, 
a  foot  every  nox- 

loving  hand  into 
h  soon  grew  into 
»ve.  The  spirit  of 
^reat  degree  a  new 
jreece  and  Rome, 
ilosophically  accu- 


COMPASSIONATE  SPIRIT  OF  THE  BIBLE.    153 

rate  and  in  many  respects  the  most  beautiful  of  all 
languages,  there  was  not  in  the  entire  vocabulary 
a  word  for  love  in  its  higher,  holier,  and  diviner 
meaning.  That  word  had  to  be  created  as  the 
incarnation  of  the  kindlier  and  heavenlier  spirit 
which  Christ  introduced  and  which  the  Bible  pro- 
mulgated. Many  words,  both  in  Greek  and  Latin, 
took  on  new  meanings  in  the  atmosphere  of  com- 
passion generated  by  Jesus  and  diffused  by  His 
Church.  The  new  wine  of  this  heavenly  life  burst 
the  old  linguistic  bottles  of  Greece  and  Rome. 

This  new  spirit  builds  our  orphanages,  hospitals, 
and  almshouses   to-day.     It  erects   our  schools, 
colleges,  and  other  institutions  of  learning.     It 
organizes  our  sheltering  homes,  our  college  settle- 
ments, and  the  manifold  charities  of  the  hour. 
When  has    infidelity  ever  endowed  a   college? 
When  has  infidelity  erected  an  hospital  >.     When 
has  atheism  founded  great  orphanages  or  other 
charitable  institutions  ?     A  few  such  instances,  it  is 
claimed,  can  be  named;  but  the  number  is  very 
small,  and  when  found  it  is  discovered  that  for  the 
most  part  these  institutions  were  founded  not  be- 
cause of,  but  in  spite  of,  the  atheistic  element  that 
had  some  place,  in  the  creed  of  the  founder.     The 
time  has  come  when  atheism  should  apologize  for 
its  inhumanity.     It  is  cold  and  cruel,  even  as  was 
heathenism.     Atheism  can  change  the  rarest  day 
in  June  into  the  rawest  day  in  January.     Atheism 
is  a  monstrosity  in  human  thought  and  a  gigantic 


■'  ■^^«Er.rK»lri?,«8W«H«W«WI*W«?^M=t3KrT7Fa3B^9S7»E!; 


i  L  ij^g-atH  trtanitj-ya-"' 


:     ! 


»S4 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


failure  in  human  effort.     The  Bible  is  evermore 
the  poor  man's  book.     It  is  always  and  everywhere 
his  consolation  and  inspiration.     It  opens  to  him 
at  once  the  noblest  possibility  of  a  lofty  manhood. 
It  recognizes  his  manhood  in  his  relations  to  his 
fellow-men,  and  his  possible  childhood  in  his  rela- 
tions to  God.     It  has  been  well  said  that  in  this 
volume  the  poor  man  may  walk  at  any  time  in  the 
garden  of  Eden,  enjoy  the  hospitality  of  Abraham, 
ascend  the  mount  of  God  with  Moses,  and  rejoice 
in  his  heirship  '."ith  God  through  Jesus  Christ.     It 
was  not  on. his  "Principia,"  as  Gilfillan  has  re- 
marked, that  Newton  laid  his  dying  head,  but  on 
his  Bible ;  not  on  his  "  Task,"  but  on  his  Testa- 
ment, that  Cowper  found  repose ;  not  in  his  wide 
fame,  but  in  his  humble  hope,  that  Robert  Hall 
experienced  peace ;  not  on  h's  limitless  genius,  but 
on  the  divine  mercy,  that '     leridge  rejoiced  in  the 
hour  of  death.     This  boo     like  its  divine  Author, 
pours  out  its  compassioni.  .e  spirit,  rejoicing  the 
dark  world  with  its  supernal  light  and  enkindling 
cold  hearts  with  its  heavenly  warmth. 


ft   ;!r 


'^'-ul. 


ii  h 


V 

l\ 

I      ' 

1 1   t 
•  t 

'lli  _,*5 


I,'  ..'..,■  ,;,a„. J-J-.i-^J'-"'"'''"'*^*''''''^*'''''''^"        '  '    ■^■**— *iiig^  • 


le  is  evermore 
ind  everywhere 
t  opens  to  him 
lofty  manhood, 
relations  to  his 
ood  in  his  rela- 
id  that  in  this 
my  time  in  the 
ty  of  Abraham, 
ses,  and  rejoice 
;sus  Christ.     It 
Jilfillan  has  re- 
ig  head,  but  on 
:  on  his  Testa- 
lot  in  his  wide 
at  Robert  Hall 
less  genius,  but 
:  rejoiced  in  the 
J  divine  Author, 
t,  rejoicing  the 
and  enkindling 
ith. 


THE    PROGRESSIVE    REVELATION    OF 
THE  BIBLE. 


i 

i 
1 


jUWJn/imMWMMM 


MHti 


rBfTg'^ww^i^' 


IX. 

The   Progressive   Revelation   of  the  Bible. 

All  intelligent  students  of  the  Bible  have  dis- 
covered the  great  progress  which  it  makes  in  its 
revelation  of  the  truth  of  God  to  the  minds  of  men. 
Were  the  Bible  more  carefully  studied,  it  would  be 
more  tenderly  loved  as  well  as  more  fully  under- 
stood.     It    is   a   thousand   pities    that   to   many 
otherwise  intelligent  men  in  the  world,  and   to 
not  a  few  even  in  the  Church,  it  is  a  comparative- 
ly unknown  book.     Except  as  men  study  music, 
painting,  scuipture,  and  poetry,  how  can  they  ex- 
pect to  be  devoted  disciples  of  any  of  these  fasci- 
nating pursuits  ?     The  man  who  discovers  the  de- 
velopment of  thought  in  the  Bible  whicq  it  clearly 
contains,  experiences  in  studying  its  pages  some- 
what of  the  charm  which  an  enthusiastic  musician 
enjoys  as  he  follows  the  diapason  of  a  great  orato- 
rio.   If  only  the  members  of  all  our  churches  could 
be  stimulated  to  study  the  Word  of  God  aright,  the 
Bible  would  virtually  become  a  new  book  in  the 
experience  of  the  Church.     We  open  it  at  Genesis 
and  read  the  sublime  words,  "In  the  beginning 
God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth  "  ;  we  close 


1S8 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


it  reading  in  Revelation,  "  Even  so,  come,  Lord 
Jesus."     A  period  of  from  sixteen   hundred   to 
seventeen  hundred  years  has  intervened  between 
the  writing  of  these  two  sentences.     Not  fewer, 
probably,  than  forty  writers  were  engaged  in  writ- 
ing these  and  the  intermediate  portions  of  the  book 
These  writers  represented  various  grades  of  intel- 
lectual and  spiritual  attainment,  and  many  variant 
positions  in  s<.oial  life.     Some  of  the  writers  were 
princes  and  some  peasants;  some  were  lovers  of 
war  and  others  lovers  of  peace ;  some  were  proph- 
ets and    others    were   poets;    but  all    stood   in 
some  sense  with  uncovered  head  in  the  immediate 
presence  of  God.     He  must  be  a  very  cursory 
reader  indeed  who  does  not  discover  the  marvel- 
lous progress  in  the  development  of  spiritual  expe- 
rience as  seen  in  these  different  writers.     One  is 
almost  overwhelmed  with  the  thought  of  all  that 
has  occurred  in  the  history  of   the  human   race 
between  the  writing   of    the   first  sentence  and 
the  closing   invocation.     Empires   and  republics 
rose  and  fell,  philosophies  flourished  and  decayed, 
armies  fought  and  suffered  defeat  or  rejoiced  in 
triumph,  and  great  nations  appeared  and  perished 
while  this  majestic,  immortal,  and  divine  book 
was  reaching  its  sublime  conclusion.     Truly  the 
thought  of  all  that  intervened  between  these  two 
sentences   is  wellnigh  overwhelming.     The   first 
sentence  is  a  simple  and  sublime  statement  of  the 
great  fact  of  God's  creative  power  and  unique  per- 


li'l    '.1 


mOGKESSr  I'E  XE  I'ELA  T/0,V  OF  THE  BIBLE.    « 5  9 


(,  come,  Lord 
1   hundred   to 
encd  between 
Not  fewer, 
gaged  in  writ- 
ins  of  the  book 
adcs  of  intel- 
1  many  variant 
c  writers  were 
were  lovers  of 
le  were  proph- 

all  stood  in 
the  immediate 
,  very  cursory 
sr  the  marvel- 
spiritual  expe- 
riters.  One  is 
ght  of  all  that 
e  human  race 
:  sentence   and 

and  republics 
id  and  decayed, 

or  rejoiced  in 
:d  and  perished 
id  divine  book 
on.  Truly  the 
ween  these  two 
ing.  The  first 
tatement  of  the 
and  unique  per- 


sonality; it  is  addressed  to  the  earliest  conscious- 
ness of  man.  It  is  a  sentence  which  denies  athe- 
ism, because  it  assumes  the  existence  of  God;  it 
denies  pantheism,  because  it  affirms  the  personality 
of  God;  it  denies  materialism,  because  it  declares 
the  creative  act  of  God.  The  sentence  closing  thin 
great  volume  expresses  the  longing  f  ry  of  the  en- 
nobled, exalted,  and  partially  divinized  creatu  o  f,>v 
the  fullest  revelation  of  the  august  preaeiv<;  of 
Christ  in  the  weary  world  and  in  the  loving  heart. 
This  invocation  for  the  return  of  the  Lord  je.;\i:3 
was  the  appropriate  expression  of  the  desire  '.i'  tho 
aged  John,  suffering  exile  in  a  lonely  isViud,  It 
is  appropriate  for  us  also  as  we  reach  'he  close  of 
the  volume  of  revelation.  It  discloses  f;omcsvhafc 
of  the  glories  of  the  heavenly  world,  and  it  com- 
forts our  hearts  with  the  hope  that  the  Lord  T^fAis 
will  come  quickly  and  gather  His  redeemed  people 
to  Himself.  This  cry  of  the  apostle  John  was 
born  of  faith,  and  it  expresses  the  exalted  hope 
which  results  from  the  teaching  of  this  progressive 
revelation. 

Rapid  Progress  in  the  New  Testament. 

There  is,  as  we  have  seen,  wonderful  progress 
between  these  extremes ;  but  that  progress  is  much 
more  rapid  in  the  New  Testament  than  ii  Inf  Oid. 
At  times  in  the  Old  Testament  the  coarse  vi  cir 
cuitous ;  occasionally  we  seem  to  irc  b.j  ,kward 
rather  than  forward.     Eddies  atour/'.  in  the  stre?.mi 


■tjg^?*e?y«!?S9ncKw 


FT;' 

!:       i  ! 


1      li 


■4  '':l 


I  1^ 


iil  ill' 


^;r 


i6o 


r/^A'  OZZ)  BOOK. 

But  there  is  still  a  stream  flowing 


of  revelation.      y>^^^  «■ ,,    Hre-er 

forward  toward  the  ultimate  >BSue  »' God/  '^^8f. 
„1ans  and  divinet  purposes.     Bishop  Butler  says . 
Cn  are  impatient' and  are  for   precipttatmg 
thtaTs-    but  God   appears  deliberate  throughout 
His  operations,  accomplishing  His  acts  by  slow 
"  PS      The  chknge  of  the  seasons,  the  npemng  of 
he  fruits  of  the  earth,  the  very  history  of  the 
twer,  are  Instances  of  this."     We  need  »   en  to 
remind  ourselves  that  one  day  wrth  G°d  "  as^^ 
thousand  years  and  a  thousand  years  as  one  day^ 
We  becom'e  impatient  of  *e  slow  movements  o 
God,  as  we  judge,  regarding  H,s  methods^    We 
must  remember  that  God  gives  men  tru  h  as  they 
Tre  ab  e  to  receive  it.     In  the  Bible  .t  came  to 
Tern  at  sundry  times  and  in  divers  manners.     It 
came  in  broken  parts  and  in  severed  l"''^.  ?■"" " 
Ae  fulness  of  time  He  enabled  us  to  read  the  les- 
on  He  had  long  been  teaching.     The-  js  P^g- 
from  the  beginning  even  to  the  end  of  the  volume 
When  we  reach  the  close  of  the  Old  Testament  we 
are  totinctly  conscious  that  the  light  is  growing 
br  ghte  ,  the' truth  clearer,  and  the  purpose  of  God 
owner      Between  the  two  Testaments  there  ,s  a 
bank  page-blank  so  far  as  the  insprred  record 
gi"    ^ut  this  period  of  Sou.  hundred  years  was 
fne  of  great  activity  among  the  nations,  and  o  cor 
esp  nfing  progress  in  the  development   of  the 
kingdom  of  God.     We  must  -<>•  ^'^E^'^  °'"' '° 
a  tfme  and  place  remote  from  H,s  people.    He 


IM 


PROGRESSIVE  RE  VELA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


i6i 


stream  flowing 
of  God's  larger 
,p  Butler  says : 
r  precipitating 
ate  throughout 
s  acts  by  slow 
the  ripening  of 

history  of  the 
e  need  often  to 
tth  God  is  as  a 
■ears  as  one  day. 
vv  movements  of 
5  methods.     We 
len  truth  as  they 
Bible  it  came  to 
srs  manners.     It 
red  links ;  but  in 
s  to  read  the  les- 
There  is  progress 
:nd  of  the  volume. 
Did  Testament  we 

light  is  growing 
ae  purpose  of  God 
iments  there  is  a 
.e  inspired  record 
hundred  years  was 
lations,  and  of  cor- 
velopment  of  the 
)t  relegate  God  to 
I  His  people.     He 


is  ever  present;  He  is  ever  accomplishing  His  gi- 
gantic plans  and  His  glorious  purposes. 

When  we  enter  the  New  Testament  we  are  con- 
scious that  we  breathe  a  new  atmosphere.     The 
progress  we  are  now  making  is  extremely  rapid. 
In  the  Old  Testament  we  slowly  step  from  century 
to  century ;  in  the  New  Testament  we  rapidly  step 
from  year  to  year  and  even  from  month  lo  month. 
Marvellous  is  the  progress  we  make  from  the  cradle 
to  the  cross  of  Christ ;  marvellous  also  from  Cal- 
vary to  Olivet ;  still  more  marvellous  from  Pente- 
cost to  the  close  of  the  record.     In  the  kingdom 
of  nature  we  everywhere  see  processes  of  prolonged 
development,  and    then  results  rapidly  matured. 
Forces  of  nature  are  long  at  work  in  God's  great 
laboratory,  while  often  but    few  outward  tokens 
mark  their  presence.     Then  come  the  few  warm 
days  of  spring ;  then  buds  open,  blossoms  appear, 
and  winter  quickly  gives  place  to  spring,  and  spriag 
to  summer.     In  the  great  movements  in  society, 
similar  laws  of  progress  have  their  manifestation. 
These  also  are  illustrated  by  processes  in  nature. 
Snow  gathers  for  many  months,  and  sometimes  for 
long  years,  piling  itself  up  into  great  mountains ; 
thus  avalanches  are  prepared.     Then  the  voice  of 
tourist  or  guide  may  shake  the  air  sufficiently 
to  cause  the  accumulated  snow  to  rush  down  the 
mountain-side  in  a  resistless  avalanche.     So  in 
great  movements  for  political  and  social  reform 
the  crisis  suddenly  comes.     Hidden  forces  rapidly 


■■*-rfras!Ci.'.  ■sawwwo* 


^7gMMH«g'si.Wl.imL!  Wfl' 


1      \ 


•  1 


1  "^ 


1  fi 


;!tl  II 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 

work,  firmly  combine,  and  finally  move  forward 
with    swiftly  accelerating  speed  and  irresistible 

force.  ,  .  T     J' 

World-shaping  events  occurred  during  our  Lord  s 
earthly  life.    Think  of  the  progress  in  science  and 
art  during  that  general  period  in  Greece!     Think 
of  the  world-embracing  ambitions  of   Rome   as 
she  sat  on  her  seven  hills  and  ruled  the  world ! 
Think  of  the  great  forces  at  work  on  the  hiUr.  and 
in  the  valleys  of  Britain,  whose  final  outcome  is 
the  civilization  of  the  great  Empire  and  the  Amer- 
ican Republic!     Few  among  the  writers  of  the 
Roman  Empire  had  any  conception  of  what  was 
occurring  in  the  land  of  Palestine;  but  the  leaven 
that  was  to  leaven  the  world  was  then  at  work. 
The  statesmen,  publicists,  warriors,  and   philos- 
ophers were  ignorant  of  the  presence  of  that  heav- 
enly and  resistless  leaven.     But  few  followers,  ap- 
parently, gathered  about  Chris:  during  His  public 
ministry;  and  yet  that  ministry  has  shaped  human 
history  ever  since.     It  has  controlled  the  foremost 
nations  of  the  world.     It  has  inspired  the  litera- 
ture, the  art,  the  music,  and  the  commerce  of  all 
civilized  nations. 

When  we  study  the  books  which  follow  the  gos- 
pels, we  make  rapid  progress  in  the  development 
of  the  doctrine  taught  by  Christ.  Thus  when  we 
come  to  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  we  are  in  the 
dispensation  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  In  the  develop- 
ment of  the  kingdom  of  God  as  revealed  in  the 


move  forward 
ad  irresistible 

ring  our  Lord's 
I  in  science  and 
reece !     Think 
(  of   Rome   as 
led  the  world! 
)n  the  hills  and 
nal  outcome  is 
:  and  the  Amer- 
writers  of  the 
an  of  what  was 
but  the  leaven 
then  at  work, 
rs,  and   philos- 
ice  of  that  heav- 
!w  followers,  ap- 
iring  His  public 
IS  shaped  human 
led  the  foremost 
pired  the  litera- 
commerce  of  all 

h  follow  the  gos- 
the  development 

Thus  when  we 
es,  we  are  in  the 

In  the  develop - 
i  revealed  in  the 


PROGJiESSl  VE  RE  VELA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE.    1 63 

Word  of  God,  we  observe  first  especia']/  the  dis- 
pensation of  God  the  Father,  next  that  in  a  pecul- 
iar sense  of  God  the  Son,  and  then  in  ar.  advanced 
degree  that  of  God  the  Spirit.     We  must  not,  of 
course,  suppose  that  either  Person  of  the  Trinity 
was  absent  during  any  stage  in  the  development  of 
the  divine  purpose  in  relation  to  man;  and  yet 
each  period  has  its  distinctive  characteristics  in 
the  manifestation  of  Deity.     The  book  of  the  Acts 
lies  between  the  facts  of  the  gospels  and  their 
development  in  the  epistles.     In  this  respect  it 
stands  related  to  the  gospels  somewhat  as  the  book 
of  Joshua  does  to  the  Pentateuch.     In  the  Penta- 
teuch we  had  the  laws  of  Judaism ;    in  the  book 
of  Joshua  we  have  illustrations  of  the   applica- 
tions of  those  laws  to  life  and  duty.     The  Pen- 
tateuch  and  the    gospels  give   respectively  the 
youth  of  Judaism  and  of  Christianity :  Joshua  and 
the  Acts   give   the  manhood   of  these  systems. 
Through  subordinate  leaders,  in  the  book  of  Joshua, 
Moses  was  still  the  real  leader ;  through  the  apos- 
tles, in  the  Acts,  Christ  is  still  the  real  leader. 
The  fulness  of  the  doctrine  was  impossible  until 
this  stage  of  the  results  was  reached.     Mysterious 
statements  in  the  gospels  are  explained  and  defined 
in  the  epistles.     Suggestions  in  the  gospels  be- 
come practices  in  the  epistles,  facts  become  doc- 
trines.    Christ's  work  as  described  in  the  gospels 
comes  to  be  fulfilled  in  the  Acts  and  the  epistles. 
Before  we  reach  the  close  of  the  Scriptures  we 


J      I 


i 


:!,! 


*i  i  \ 


164 


T//E  OLD  BOOK. 


see  that  the  inward,  individual  life  of  believers 
becomes  the  outward  and  organized  kingdom  of 
Christ  which  is  in  the  book  of  Revelation  a  his- 
tory of  trial  and  triumph,  and  finally  a  destiny  in 
glory.     We  see  all  along  these  stages  that  Christ 
is  still  the  Head  of  the  Church.     There  is  no  con- 
tradictior  whatever  between  these  various  parts  of 
the  one  divine  book.     Parts  are  related  to  one  an- 
other as  dawn  is  to  morning,  and  morning  to  the 
meridian  splendors  of  noon.     Christ  is  still  the 
Head  of  the  Church.     The  later  and  larger  doctrine 
is  found  in  its  germs  in  the  words  which  Christ 
spoke  when  on  the  earth.     It  was  necessary  that 
Christ  should  die  and  rise  from  the  dead  before  the 
doctrine  of  salvation  in  all  its  fulness  could  be 
proclaimed.     They  are  unreasonable  who  expect  to 
find  the  fulness  of  the  doctrine  of  salvation  in  the 
gospels  before  the  facts  of  salvation  were  accom- 
plished in  the  life  of  Christ.     Not  until  He  was 
glorified  was  His  life-work  completed;   and  not 
until  it  was  thus  complete  could  the  facts  of  His 
life  be  fully  interpreted  and  practically  applied. 

Facts  More  in  Detail. 
Let  us  look  more  in  detail  at  this  general  out- 
line. There  is  not  only  progress  from  gospels  to 
Acts,  and  Acts  to  epistles,  and  epistles  to  Reve- 
lation, but  there  is  also  progress  from  gospel  to 
gospel.  The  gospels  must  logically  as  well  as 
chronologically  precede  the  epistles.     We  must 


PROGRESSIVE  RE  VELA  TJON  OF  THE  BIBLE.    165 


life  of  believers 
ized  kingdom  of 
Revelation  a  his- 
jally  a  destiny  in 
tages  that  Christ 
There  is  no  con- 
e  various  parts  of 
elated  to  one  an- 
[  morning  to  the 
hrist  is  still  the 
nd  larger  doctrine 
rds  which  Christ 
as  necessary  that 
le  dead  before  the 
fulness  could  be 
ible  who  expect  to 
if  salvation  in  the 
ition  were  accom- 
^ot  until  He  was 
npleted;   and  not 
[  the  facts  of  His 
itically  applied. 

5TAIL. 

;  this  general  out- 
is  from  gospels  to 
epistles  to  Reve- 
ss  from  gospel  to 
jically  as  well  as 
(istles.     We  must 


have  the  facts  regarding  the  presence  and  the  teach- 
ing of  Christ  before  we  can  organize  these  facts 
into  a  system  and  formulate  them  into  doctrines. 
The  writers  of  the  gospels  tell  us  almost  nothing 
of  themselves.  Their  modest  reticence  and  self- 
abnegation  are  marvellous.  They  give  us,  without 
preface  and  without  comment,  the  plain  narration 
of  that  which  they  have  seen  and  heard.  In  order 
the  better  to  fix  our  thoughts  on  the  narration  of 
the  facts  and  the  portrait  of  the  person  of  Christ 
we  have  four  gospels,  and  not  one  gospel.  We 
have  the  accounts  of  the  manifestation  of  Christ 
presented  to  us  in  four  photographs  taken  from  as 
many  different  points  of  view.  We  have  the  one 
Lord  of  Glory  passing  four  times  before  us  in  this 
ancient,  simple,  sublime,  and  heavenly  narrative. 
This  fact  is  of  immense  value  in  enabling  us  to 
get  a  true  conception  of  the  life  and  character  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  There  is  an  enormous  advantage 
in  the  fourfold  repetition  of  the  wondrous  story 
of  Christ's  life  and  death.  Thus  again  and  again 
we  stand  beside  His  cradle,  and  we  follow  Him 
through  His  unique  life.  Again  and  again  we 
stand  beside  His  cross.  Again  and  again  we  gaze 
into  His  empty  sepulchre,  and  at  last  journey  with 
Him  to  the  eastern  declivity  of  the  Mount  of 
Olives,  and  watch  Him  as  He  goes  up  to  take  His 
place  on  His  temporarily  vacant  throne.  We  need 
to  saturate  our  minds  with  the  spirit  of  this  four- 
fold narrative.         . 


11 


'( 


a-i 


I'   i 


i66 


r/fE  OLD  BOOK". 


But  we  need  also  to  observe  that  there  is  prog- 
ress from  one  gospel  to  another.     Special  princi- 
ples of  selection  and  arrangement  are  illustrated  in 
each  gospel.     Out  of  the  great  mass  of  facts  ac- 
cessible to  each  evangelist  he  chose  those  most  in 
harmony  with  the  purpose  for  which  he  wrote  the 
gospel  which  bears  his  name.     Matthew  regarded 
Him  as  the  royal  Law-giver,  Mark  as  the  mighty 
Worker,  Luke  as  the  Friend  of  Man,  and  John  as 
the  Son  of  God.     In  harmony  with  this  dominant 
thought,  Matthew  traces  the  genealogical  line  back 
.  to  Abraham ;  Mark  introduces  us  at  once  to  Christ 
amid  all  the  activities  of  His  marvellous  life.     His 
is  the  glowing  narrative  in  which  everywhere  he 
represents  Christ  at  work.     In  harmony  with  this 
lifelike  narrative  such  words  as  "straightway, 
"forthwith,"  "immediately"  appear  with  remark- 
able frequency.     The  portrait  of  the  Saviour  is 
one ;  the  aspects  which  we  are  permitted  to  observe 
are  four.     Matthew,  as  we  have  seen,  carries  us 
back  to  Abraham,  and  shows  us  how  the  New 
Testament  grows  out  of  the  Old  Testament.     Luke 
carries  us  back  to  Adam.     But  John  sweeps  past 
Abraham,  past  Adam,  past  all  human  relationships, 
and  presents  to  us  Christ  as  God.     It  is  fitting  that 
John  should  always  be  represented  as  astride  an 
eagle,  poarmg  aloft  into  the  mysteries  and  glories 
of  eternity,  soaring  into  the  immediate  presence  of 
the  Eternal.     Matthew  gives  us  the  gospel  in  its 
special  relations  to  Judaism;  and  Mark  and  Luke 


'^'.-■ssaa. 


PROGRESSIVE  RE  VELA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE.   1 6  7 


t  there  is  prog- 
Special  princi- 
ire  illustrated  in 
iss  of  facts  ac- 
56  those  most  in 
ch  he  wrote  the 
atthew  regarded 
k  as  the  mighty 
Ian,  and  John  as 
:h  this  dominant 
ilogical  line  back 
at  once  to  Christ 
dlouslife.     His 
h  everywhere  he 
armony  with  this 
5  "straightway," 
lear  with  remark- 
if  the  Saviour  is 
rmitted  to  observe 
5  seen,  carries  us 
us  how  the  New 
restament.     Luke 
John  sweeps  past 
man  relationships, 
It  is  fitting  that 
ited  as  astride  an 
steries  and  glories 
lediate  presence  of 
the  gospel  in  its 
id  Mark  and  Luke 


in  its  broader  relations  to  the  human  race.  Mat- 
thew's gospel  is  Israelitic;  Mark's  Gentilic; 
Luke's  universal ;  John's  Christian.  In  John's 
gospel  we  see  Christianity  entering  into  subtle 
controversies  regarding  the  person  of  Christ.  It 
is  of  the  utmost  value  to  us  that  one  who  stood 
so  close  to  Jesus  as  did  John  should  give  us  this 
profound  dissertation  which  no  other  evangelist 
anywhere  contradicts.  This  truth  is  assumed  in 
the  synoptic  gospels;  for  they  everywhere  imply 
what  the  apostle  John  declares  as  to  the  divinity 
of  Christ.  Ihe  thought  which  earlier  was  in  the 
germ  John  expands,  ennobles,  and  glorifies. 

But  the  teaching  of  Christ,  even  in  the  most  ad- 
vanced gospel,  was  not  a  finality.  Even  there  are 
found  suggestions  of  a  fuller  development.  It  is 
visibly  progressive  throughout  the  gospels;  it  is 
continuously  progressive  after  the  gospels.  We 
cannot  expect  to  find  in  the  three  earlier  gospels 
definite  assertions  as  to  the  real  nature  of  our 
Lord's  vicarious  death;  but  John's  gospel  is  fuller 
in  that  regard.  But  even  here  are  great  sayings 
whose  complete  meaning  awaits  the  future  of  the 
plan  of  revelation.  We  shall  see  the  wonderful 
progress  in  the  development  of  the  divine  thought 
in  the  gospels  if  we  simply  compare  the  sublime 
Sermon  on  the  Mount — the  first  discourse  in  Mat- 
thew— with  the  last  discourse  of  Christ  recorded 
in  John.  The  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  ministry,  was  beautiful  and  sublime.     It 


s68 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


j|   .(, 


1       if 


'ifl 


was  vastly  in  advance  of  the  highest  thought  of  the 
greatest  teacher  of  Greece,  of  Rome,  or  of  the 
dreamy  Orient.  .  It  stands  peerless  above  the  world 
to  this  hour.     But  when  we  compare  it  with  the 
discourse  and  prayer  in  the  upper  room,  as  found 
in  the  fourteenth,  fifteenth,  sixteenth,  and  seven- 
teenth chapters  of  John's  gospel,  we  see  what 
progress  has  been  made  in  spiritual  development. 
In  the  Sermon  on  the  Mount  we  are  somewhat  in 
the  atmosphere  of  the  Old  Testament ;  in  the  later 
address  we  stand  at  the  beginning  of  the  New  Dis- 
pensation.   The  light  of  heaven  falls  on  our  up- 
turned faces;  the  peace  of  God  is  in  our  hearts; 
we  stand  in  the  unclouded  splendor  of  Him  who  is 
the  Son  of  Righteousness ;  heaven  has  opened ;  we 
are  listening  to  the  King  of  Glory;  we  are  on  the 
Olivet  of  revelation;  we  have  anticipated  the  cry 
of  John  in  the  Apocalypse ;  indeed,  the  apocalyptic 
glory  is  already  experienced 

The  Acts  of  the  Apostles. 
Still  there  is  progress  as  we  pass  from  the  gos- 
pels to  the  Acts.     The  book  of  the  Acts  carries  us 
back  to  the  preceding  record,  as  recorded  by  Luke 
in  the  gospel  which  bears  his  name.     The  record 
in  that  gospel  was  of  what  Jesus  did  on  the  earth ; 
it  was  what  Jesus  "  began  both  to  do  and  to  teach. 
In  the  book  on  which  we  have  now  entered  we 
are  to  have  a  record  of  what  Jesus  "  continued     to 
do  after  He  was  taken  up  into  heaven.     Christ  s 


PROGRESSIVE  RE  VELA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE.   169 


thought  of  the 
)me,  or  of  the 
above  the  world 
are  it  with  the 
room,  as  found 
nth,  and  seven- 
,  we  see  what 
al  development, 
ire  somewhat  in 
;nt ;  in  the  later 
of  the  New  Dis- 
falls  on  our  up- 
is  in  our  hearts ; 
ir  of  Him  who  is 
has  opened;  we 
^ ;  we  are  on  the 
icipated  the  cry 
1,  the  apocalyptic 


OSTLES. 

ass  from  the  gos- 
le  Acts  carries  us 
recorded  by  Luke 
.me.  The  record 
did  on  the  earth; 
)  do  and  to  teach." 
!  now  entered  we 
as  "  continued  "  to 
heaven.     Christ's 


authority  is  still  recognized.  He  is  still  the  Head 
of  the  Church.  Strictly  the  title  ought  to  be  not 
the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  but  the  Acts  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.  It  is  still  the  personal  action  of  the  Master 
Himself.  He  has  simply  changed  His  stand- 
point. On  critical  occasions,  even  after  His  as- 
cension, He  is  made  manifest.  The  dying  Stephen 
saw  Him.  Suddenly  He  appears  to  Saul  of  Tar- 
sus. Unexpectedly  He  came  to  Paul  in  the  tem- 
ple. But  a  thin  veil  at  any  time  separated  Him 
from  His  waiting  and  worshipping  disciples. 

We  cannot  help  also  observing  that  there  is  great 
progress  in  the  book  of  the  Acts  itself.  The  book 
begins  at  Jerusalem,  the  capital  of  the  religious 
world ;  it  ends  in  Rome,  the  capital  of  the  Roman 
world.  The  dividing-line  falls  at  the  close  of  the 
twelfth  chapter.  We  first  had  the  Gospel  within 
the  bounds  of  Judaism ;  then  beyond  those  limits 
pressing  toward  a  parallelism  with  the  Roman 
Empire,  and  then,  finally,  reaching  out  toward  the 
whole  race  of  man.  It  is  profoundly  instructive 
to  study  the  progress  in  the  development  of  the 
divine  thought  and  purpose  in  this  first  history  of 
the  Christian  Church.  In  the  first  division  we 
had  the  movement  from  Jerusalem  to  Antioch,  the 
field  being  chiefly  the  Jewish  world,  and  the  apos- 
tle Peter  being  the  principal  agent ;  in  the  second 
division  the  movement  from  Antioch  to  Rome ;  in 
this  last  division  the  field  of  operations  is  the 
Gentile  world,  and  the  principal  agent  is  the  apos- 


II  mw 


,70  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

tie  Paul.  The  book  of  the  Acts  began  in  Jeru- 
salem, the  capital  of  the  religious  world ;  it  ends 
in  Rome,  the  capital  of  the  political  world. 

The  Epistles. 
The  Acts  of  the  Apostles  was  so  named  because 
it  is  the  record  not  of  the  words,  but  of  the  acts  of 
the  apostles.     We  cannot  expect,  therefore,  to  find 
in  that  book  more  than  the  intimations  of  doctrme ; 
we  cannot  expect  the  exposition  of  doctrnies  to 
any  degree.     Thus  this  book  carries  us  from  the 
gospels  to  the  epistles.     It  has  well  been  likened 
to  the  span  of  a  great  bridge;  its  absence  would 
produce  an  impassable  chasm ;  it  would  involve  us 
in  inextricable  confusion.     Were  we  to  pass   at 
once  from  the  close  of  the  gospel  by  John  to  the 
opening  of  the  epistle  to  the  Romans,  we  should 
experience  a  painful  shock.     There  would  here  be 
an  impassable  hiatus.     We  should  be  obliged  to 
ask:    "Who  is  this  Paul  who  calls  himself  the 
servant  of  Jesus  Christ.?     Whence  came  he ?     He 
was  not  mentioned  among  the  witnesses  of  the 
resurrection.     How  came  the  gospel  to  the  Ro- 
mans ?  "     We  thus  see  at  a  glance  how  necessary 
is  the  Acts  of   the  Apostles  to  the  understand- 
ing of   the  epistles.     Christ  has  been  preached; 
churches  have  been  formed.     But  what  shall  be 
done  with  those  churches  ?     Shall  they  be  left  to 
their  own  resources?     The  new  intellectual  and 
moral  life  must  be  fed.     Now  we  see  the  facts  of 


il  mm 


PROCKESSfVE  KE  VELA  TION  OF  THE  BIBLE.  1 7  i 


began  in  Jeru- 
i  world ;  it  ends 
al  world. 


5  named  because 
lut  of  the  acts  of 
therefore,  to  find 
ions  of  doctrine ; 
of  doctrines  to 
rries  us  from  the 
?ell  been  likened 
:s  absence  would 
would  involve  us 
e  we  to  pass   at 
2I  by  John  to  the 
jmans,  we  should 
;re  would  here  be 
Id  be  obliged  to 
calls  himself  the 
ce  came  he?     He 
witnesses  of  the 
ospel  to  the  Ro- 
ce  how  necessary 
3  the  understand- 
is  been  preached; 
Jut  what  shall  be 
lall  they  be  left  to 
iv  intellectual  and 
jve  see  the  facts  of 


the  gospels  in  a  new  light.  The  Holy  Ghost  has 
come.  New  standards  of  character  are  given; 
new  principles  of  action  are  suggested;  new  bonds 
between  man  and  man  are  recognized.  Indeed,  a 
new  world  is  born.  It  is  a  critical  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  Christianity.  The  fate  of  the  Gospel  was 
in  the  balance.  A  further  word  of  God  is  needed; 
a  further  word  is  furnished.  God  meets  this 
necessity  by  the  living  voice  and  by  the  inspired 
writing  of  His  holy  apostles.  These  letters  are 
the  voice  of  the  Spirit  speaking  to  the  Church. 
Christ  Himself  wrote  no  letters.  So  far  as  we 
know,  He  never  personally  wrote  anything  except 
a  few  words  with  His  finger  on  the  ground.  13ut 
He  writes  as  the  voice  of  the  Spirit  speaks  to 
the  churches  through  these  epistles.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  also  that  the  epistolary  form  is  a 
great  advance  in  the  New  Testament  over  the  oral 
communications  of  the  Old  Testament.  The 
prophets  delivered  oracles ;  the  apostles  wrote  let- 
ters. There  was  an  immense  advantage  in  the 
great  argument  of  the  epistles,  the  argument  of 
justification  by  faith,  and  other  profound  discus- 
sions in  the  epistolary  form  of  revelation. 

The  order  of  the  epistles  also  is  profoundly  sug- 
gestive. Romans,  Corinthians,  Galatians  —  as 
Bernard,  in  his  "  Progress  of  Doctrine,"  has  pointed 
out — were  corrective  in  their  nature.  In  these 
first  epistles  the  apostolic  doctrine  is  asserted  in 
its  divine  character.     In  the  epistles  to  the  Ephe- 


f  ■'  I 


■T 


'    tJ 


'  '  ,f  'ij 


I   1  ' 


»7« 


r/M  0/./)  //ooA'. 


sians  and  Colossians  a  calmer  spirit  is  manifested ; 
here  we  have  not  so  much  confutation  as  consola- 
tion. In  the  epistle  to  the  Philippians  the  voice 
is  that  of  a  loving  friend.  In  the  Thessalonian 
epistles  we  havo  the  completion  of  Paul's  addresses 
to  the  several  churches.  Although  these  last  are 
earlier  in  date,  they  are  placed  later  because  of 
their  teaching  regarding  the  sustaining  hope  of  the 
Christian  in  the  glorious  appearance  of  Christ. 
Then  follow  properly  the  pastoral  and  the  gen- 
eral epistles.  There  is  thus  progress  of  doctrine 
throughout. 

The  Apocalypse. 

In  the  earlier  Scriptures  we  have  seen  Christ  in 
relation  to  individual  souls  and  to  churches.  The 
Church  had  its  fierce  conflicts.  As  the  epistles 
closed  we  had  hints  of  anti-Christ,  of  lawlessness, 
and  of  manifold  evils.  The  opening  of  the  Apoca- 
lypse strikes  the  note  of  all  which  is  to  follow;  it 
gives  praise  and  glory  to  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Lamb 
that  was  slain.  The  book  tells  of  the  coming  of 
the  Lord  Jesus.  It  gives  us  a  doctrine  of  victory, 
and  this  victory  means  the  overthrow  of  evil. 
Then  come  the  new  heavens  and  the  new  earth, 
then  the  glorious  vision  of  the  city  of  God.  The 
word  cifjy  suggests  a  well-ordered  and  protected 
society.  The  ideal  social  life  is  restored;  and 
here  is  the  final  vision  of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem. 
Here  is  the  culmination  of  all  the  revelations  of 


'4I   lifewto^. 


iliMHi  U.II'IU 


is  manifested ; 
ion  as  consola- 
ipians  the  voice 
e  Thessalonian 
■^aul's  addresses 
1  tliese  last  are 
iter  because  of 
ling  hope  of  the 
ince  of  Christ. 
1  and  the  gen- 
ress  of  doctrine 


e  seen  Christ  in 
churches.  The 
As  the  epistles 

of  lawlessness, 
ig  of  the  Apoca- 

is  to  follow ;  it 
'ist  as  the  Lamb 
f  the  coming  of 
:trine  of  victory, 
irthrow  of  evil. 

the  new  earth, 
:y  of  God.  The 
d  and  protected 
3  restored;  and 
venly  Jerusalem, 
le  revelations  of 


PROGRESSIl'E  RF.VELA  TJOiV  OF  THE  BIBLE,   173 

God  from  Genesis  to  this  moment.  Take  this 
glorious  vision  away,  and  what  a  loss  would  we 
sustain !  God  dwells  with  men.  In  that  perfect 
society  all  the  people  are  righteous.  The!  love 
never  fails.  The  city  is  the  final  home  o*"  *  ^  re- 
deemed. We  are  not  to  think  simply  ot  ^^ur  indi- 
vidual portion,  else  we  lo.sc  the  completeness  of 
the  blessing  for  the  Church.  The  sublime  words 
assure  us  of  corporate  blessedness  where  "  He  hath 
prepared  for  them  a  city." 

Thus  in  the  New  Testament  we  come  from  the 
cradle  of  Ik'thlehcm  to  the  city  of  God.  First  we 
have  a  person ;  then  facts ;  then  in  the  Acts  Christ 
is  preached  and  churches  are  formed;  then  the 
apostolic  letters  expound  the  duties  of  men  in  their 
new  relations ;  and  in  Revelation  we  find  ourselves 
the  partakers  of  a  corporate  life.  We  are  citizens 
of  a  holy  city,  in  which  Christ  finds  His  joy,  and 
in  which  the  ideal  has  become  the  actual.  Thus 
the  progressive  idea  of  "  the  New  Testament  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ"  carries  us 
form  the  cradle  of  Bethlehem  to  the  city  of  God. 
We  go,  in  both,  from  Eden  to  Paradise ;  from  God 
walking  with  men  in  their  innocence  to  men  dwell- 
ing with  God,  their  innocence  restored  by  His  for- 
giving grace. 

If  we  were  to  call  attention  to  special  doctrines, 
we  should  see  how  the  early  parts  of  the  Bible  an- 
ticipate the  later.  There  is  no  contraaIc<-ion  be- 
tween the  Old  Testament  and  the  New.     Angus- 


•I         ' 


\  1  1.  1  li 


':!  ''' 


'11   w  1  It 


7V/£  OZZ)  BOOA'. 
174 

^1  .;^  •  "  The  New  Testament  is  latent 
''":,t"oidtoM  Testament  is  patent  in  the 
in  the  UW,  tne  v^i^  .  •„  ^u^  hud   the  New 

New."     The  aid  Testament  .s*e  bud  tn 

Testament  ti,e  fl°«'^  J^.^.^r^c  „Stution  o. 
its  time  and  pla  e.  J"  «  of  the  earli- 
Great  Britam  is  the  natural  outg  ^^^^„ 

est  »-"-'- °V*:,rdtThe  B^ish  Consti- 

Constitution  standi  relatea 

.,ion  as  flower  to  hu    and  .  b»Uo  see^^^  ^^^ 

doctrine  of  the  Tnn.ty  ■»/  8^       ..  j..et  us  make 

^"""'rii':;:'"^^  :::*eve,opme„tis 

man  in  our  ima.e,    o  ^^^^^^_ 

found  in  the  ^^^^^flZ^'^rornise   that   God 
tionwas  suggested  with    ^^P^^  the  seed 

1.1  rMii-pnmitv  between  the  serpent  aim 
would  put  enmity  D  ^^.^.^^  ^^^^y  ,„ 

of  the  woman;   it  reachea  u 

its  complete  Preparation  when  C-t  ^-g  ^^P  ^ 

the  cross,  and  its  presentation  when  F 

preached  on  the  day  of  Pentecost 

'  The  history  of  both  Testpent-ugbt  -^^^^^^^ 

history  of  every  human  sou       ^^   f  J        ,ies. 

its  period  of  law.  of  S-f '  °  ^^nd  ,o  our  cry. 
^r.A  nf  aoocalytic  vision  of  gloiy,  anu  ^ 

^.tlrcome.  Lord  Jesu."  i-^-e  Prom.seJ^. 

He  wm  <>-"j* -■  :    ;f„   ™    Uers  and 
Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth. 


It-' 


rit. 


X'\i 


:ament  is  latent 
is  patent  in  the 
tie  bud,  the  New 
rt  is  perfect  for 
y  Constitution  of 
owth  of  the  earli- 
The  American 
.e  British  Consti- 
ud  to  seed.     The 
rested  in  the  very 
rds,  "  Let  us  make 
11  development  is 
Human  rcdemp- 
aromise   that   God 
;rpent  and  the  seed 
meridian  glory  in 
Christ  hung  upon 
when  the  apostles 

ist. 

;nts  ought  to  be  the 
Our  life  must  have 
of  acts  of  apostles, 
Diy ;  and  to  our  cry, 
'  is  the  promise  that 
the  voices  of  saints 
t  of  many  waters  and 
"AUelujahl  for  the 

h." 


THE   ARTLESS    HARMONY    OF   THE 
BIBLE. 


X. 

The  Artless  Harmony  of  the  Bible. 

No  other  book  touches  life  at  so  many  points  as 
does   the   Bible.      Though   written  in  a  country 
which  was  of  small  dimensions,  yet  it  is  a  country 
which  has  a  remarkable  variety  of  climate  and  of 
production.     In  this  respect  Palestine  is  virtually 
the  world  in  miniature.     Only  those  who  have 
given  special  attention  to  the  subject  are  aware  of 
the  remarkable  differences  in  climate  and  produc- 
tions in  parts  bf  the  country  separated  from  one 
another  by  only  a  few  miles.     The  traveller  in  go- 
ing from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho,  a  distance  of  only 
about  eighteen  miles,  may  really  occasionally  pass 
from  winter  to  summer,  and  at  all  times  from  a 
comparatively   temperate   to   a  virtually   tropical 
climate.     In   January,     1884,    there   were    snow- 
drifts five  feet  deep  at  the  Jaffa  gate  of  Jerusalem, 
but  at  the  same  time  there  was  a  mild  and  tropical 
climate  in  the  Jordan  valley.      Sir  J.  W.  Dawson 
tells  us  that  he  has  passed  in  February  from  rain, 
sleet,  and  cold  winds  at  Jerusalem  to  a  warm  and 
sultry  temperature  at  Jericho.     This  is  a  feature 
of  Palestine  to  which  it  owes  its  remarkably  great 
variety  of  animals  and  plants  for  a  country  of  its 
size.     Another  reason  for  the  great  variety  of  pro- 

13 


178 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


ductions  and  animals  and  birds  is  that  the  coun- 
try lies  in  the  route  from  Asia  and  Europe  into 
Africa.  Migratory  birds  cross  Palestine  annually 
twice,  in  autumn  and  in  spring.  Doubtless  a 
much  more  ample  connection  once  existed  between 
Asia  and  Africa  than  is  seen  at  present.  This 
fact  is  proved  by  the  deposits  in  the  Isthmus  of 
Suez  and  in  the  desert  east  of  it.  There  is  also  a 
marked  diversity  of  climate,  soil,  and  production 
between  the  hills  and  valleys  of  Palestine-  and 
this  diversity  always  must  have  exercised  an  influ- 
ence on  the  habits  and  pursuits  of  the  people. 
The  people  of  adjacent  districts  thus  how  as 
marked  differences  in  their  endurance  and  charac- 
ter as  they  do  in  their  clothii.^,  shelter,  and  various 
domestic  habits  and  pursuits. 

These  facts  show  that  Palestine  was  specially 
fitted  as  the  birthplace  both  of  the  Bible  and  of 
Judaism  and  of  Christianity.  The  Bible  is  a  book 
intended  for  all  countries  and  for  all  centuries.  It 
has  as  great  adaptability  to  the  icy  mountains  of 
Greenland  as  to  the  coral  strands  of  India.  Its 
references  to  animals  and  to  the  various  aspects  of 
nature  adapt  it  as  well  to  America  as  to  Europe  or 
Asia.  In  this  respect  Palestine  is  unique  among  all 
the  countries  of  the  world,  especially  for  a  country 
of  its  small  size,  and  it  was  divinely  appointed  as 
the  birthplace  of  great  religions  and  of  God's  full- 
est revpioticr.  tu  men.  Thus  the  writers  of  the 
Bible  had  the  appropriate  local  setting  for  writing 


.  ^■i.^J^^JiM^-'- 


i_C-a.-^ii-^:'-  fc-w**--a-J*  ^ 


s  that  the  coun- 
and  Europe  into 
alestine  annually 
g.  Doubtless  a 
3  existed  between 
t  present.  This 
I  the  Isthmus  of 
There  is  also  a 
I,  and  production 
f  Palestine-  and 
xercised  an  influ- 
:s  of  the  people, 
ts  thus  how  as 
ranee  and  charac- 
lelter,  and  various 

:ine  was  specially 
the  Bible  and  of 
tie  Bible  is  a  book 
all  centuries.  It 
icy  mountains  of 
ds  of  India.  Its 
various  aspects  of 
:a  as  to  Europe  or 
5  unique  among  all 
lally  for  a  country 
nely  appointed  as 
and  of  God's  full- 
he  writers  of  the 
setting  for  writing 


ri/E  ARTLESS  HARMONY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  179 

a  book  which  was  intended  tc  cover  a  vast  field 
and  to  describe  widely  different  subjects ;  and  thus 
it  comes  to  pass  that  the  Bible  is  perfectly  at  home 
at  all  times  and  in  all  lands.  It  is  the  contempo- 
rary of  all  religions ;  it  is  the  exponent  of  the  high- 
est civilization  of  every  age ;  and  it  is  the  inspira- 
tion toward  the  development  of  the  divinest  char- 
acter of  which  human  nature,  under  divine  grace, 
is  capable.  The  Bible,  like  its  Lord,  whom  it  re- 
veals and  honors,  belongs  to  all  races,  ages,  and 
countries. 

Absence  of  System. 

There  is  a  notable  absence  of  systematic  ar- 
rangement in  the  contents  of  this  remarkable  book. 
It  has  disclosed  God,  with  all  the  mystery  of  His 
undefined  and  undefinable  existence;   but  it  no- 
where attempts  to  prove  the  existence  of  God.     A 
revelation  necessarily  assumes  the  existence  of  the 
revelator.     It  opens  with  the  majestic  words  im- 
plying His  existence  and  declaring  His  personality 
and  power.     When  it  speaks  of  God  it  never  gives 
an  opinion,  it  never  speculates;  it  always  in  sim- 
ple but  majestic  language  declares  His  existence, 
and  implies  His  creative  power,  administrative  wis- 
dom, and  ineffable  love.     In  this  resnect  the  Bible 
is  markedly  different  from  the  productions  of  all 
merely  human  philosophic  and  religious  teachers. 
The  majestic  sweep  of  the  first  chapter  of  Genesis 
proves  by  its  uniquity  the  great  gulf  which  sepa- 


i8o 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


rates  this  book  from  all  the  volumes  of  uninspired 
men.  No  human  philosopher  with  a  few  bold 
strokes  of  his  pen  could  give  such  a  magnificent 
account  of  creation. 

The  book  also  discusses  great  questions  regard- 
ing angels  and  other  superhuman  existences.     It 
brings  before  us  the  being,  the  character,  and  the 
offices  cf  these  exalted  creatures  in  a  manner  sug- 
gesting its  peculiar  inspiration  and  divine  wisdom. 
It  tells  us  of  the  origin,  the  duty,  and  the  destiny 
of  man.     It  avoids  all  mere  speculative  discussion 
regarding  all  these  profound  subjects ;  and  it  ever- 
more presses  home  the  practical  duties  and  spiri- 
tual relations  which  belong  to  man,  alike  in  his 
earthly  environment  and  in  his  heavenly  possibil- 
ity.    It  gives  illustrations  of  the  unfoldments  of 
God's  mighty  plans  in  the  government  of  the  world. 
It  carries  us  from  the  eternal  past  to  the  eternal 
future;  it  shows  us  that  time  is  but  a  hyphen  be- 
tween the  eternities.     It  draws  aside  the  veil  and 
reveals  the  open  door  into  heaven,  and  it  also  gra- 
ciously uncovers  to  our  shuddering  gaze  the  pit  of 
Hades.     It  rises  into  loftiest  eloquence  as  it  chants 
the  song  of  the  unspeakable  love  of  God  in  the  re- 
demption of  man.     It  shows  us  God's  redemptive 
love  even  at  the  gate  of  Eden,  and  it  manifests 
that  love  in  its  meridian   splendor  on   Calvary. 
The  infinitely  great  and  the  infinitely  small  meet 
on  its  divine  pages.     We  behold  the  august  Cre- 
ator enthroned  on  the  circle  of  the  universe;  but 


nes  of  uninspired 
vith  a  few  bold 
ich  a  magnificent 

questions  regard- 
in  existences.  It 
character,  and  the 

in  a  manner  sug- 
nd  divine  wisdom. 
^,  and  the  destiny 
:ulative  discu3sion 
jects ;  and  it  ever- 
l  duties  and  spiri- 
man,  alike  in  his 
heavenly  possibil- 
he  unfoldments  of 
iment  of  the  world. 
past  to  the  eternal 
i  but  a  hyphen  be- 
;  aside  the  veil  and 
m,  and  it  also  gra- 
ing  gaze  the  pit  of 
(quence  as  it  chants 
e  of  God  in  the  re- 
1  God's  redemptive 
1,  and  it  manifests 
endor  on   Calvary, 
finitely  small  meet 
>ld  the  august  Cre- 

the  universe;  but 


r//E  ARTLESS  HARMONY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    i8i 

just  when  we  might  be  too  much  awed  to  give 
Him  love  or  true  reverence,  we  learn  that  He  is 
as  loving  as  He  is  mighty ;  that  while  He  listens 
to  the  music  of  the  spheres  as  they  roll  in  their 
mighty  orbits  obedient  to  His  command,  He  no- 
tices the  sparrow's  fall  and  rejoices  in  the  bloom 
and  perfume  of  the  rose. 

Family  as  well  as  national  life  is  portrayed  on 
its  pages.  The  Bible,  like  Palestine,  is  the  world 
in  miniature.  It  surpasses  all  other  books  in  this 
regard.  It  gives  us  the  best  pictures  of  all  civili- 
zations, all  countries,  all  centuries.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  it  is  in  the  most  emphatic  sense 
the  book  of  mankind. 

The  writers  of  this  volume  are  numerous   and 
varied.     There  are  probably  not  fewer  than  forty 
writers  whose  inspired  and  consecrated  labors  ap- 
pear on  its  pages.     They  represent  all  the  walks 
of  life,  many  varieties  of  moral  character,  and  many 
varying  degrees  of  culture.     They  cover,  as  has 
already  been  noticed,  a  period  of  between  sixteen 
and  seventeen  hundred  years  in  length.     Some  of 
these  writers  possessed  abundant  educational  ad- 
vantages; others  were  greatly  limited  in  this  re- 
gard.    Some  were  statesmen  rejoicing  in  interna- 
tional influence  and  power;  others  were  peasants 
and  herdsmen,  not  known  outside  the  narrow  circle 
in  which  they  moved  in  their  lowly  employments. 
Some  were  warriors  who  rcjoiced  in  the  clash  of 
arms  and  in  all  the  pomp  and  pageantry  of  war; 


f 


-.—  ■         ■!!» 


i8a 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Others  were  lovers  of  peace,  and  were  engaged  as 
fishermen  and  husbandmen  in  the  pursuits  of  rural 
life.  Some  were  prophets,  apostles,  priests,  and 
kings ;  othefs  had  no  title,  and  would  be  utterly 
unknown  to  the  wcrld  did  not  their  names  appear 
on  these  pages.  Some  portions  of  the  Bible  are 
addressed  to  Jews,  others  to  Gentiles,  bond  and 
free,  Greek  and  barbarian.  Some  lived  amid  the 
noise,  confusion,  and  cosmopolitanism  of  ancient 
cities;  others  dwelt  amid  the  idyllic  charms  of 
simplest  and  commonest  life.  Some  were  profes- 
sional men ;  others  were  keepers  of  vineyards  or 
tillers  of  the  soil.  It  thus  comes  to  pass  that 
princes  and  peasants  meet  on  these  pages  in  a 
common  fellowship,  and  unite  their  labors  for  a 
common  and  inspired  end. 

Variety  in  Discussions. 

These  writers  wrote  thus  in  a  great  variety  of 
circumstances  and  with  a  corresponding  variety 
of  subjects.  Their  differing  condition  grew  out 
of  their  varied  positions  and  occupations.  Thus 
some  wrote  in  times  of  great  national  prosperity; 
others  in  times  of  defeat,  captivity,  and  slavery. 
These  writers  differed  very  much  in  nationality 
and  very  much  in  methods  of  thought,  figures  of 
speech,  and  other  forms  of  expression.  Some 
parts  of  the  Bible  were  v;ritten  on  the  tented  field ; 
others  in  kings'  palaces ;  some  parts  in  prison  and 
in  exile;  others  in  peace  and  prosperity.     Some 


iVl^mtft--'^-'*^'-^*^   ■-■-I  r  j^.h'jcaj. 


■  .^..•iJ^lmm.UA^.Viil-'  ■ 


I  were  engaged  as 
e  pursuits  of  rural 
sties,  priests,  and 
;  would  be  utterly 
heir  names  appear 
5  of  the  Bible  are 
lentiles,  bond  and 
ne  lived  amid  the 
itanism  of  ancient 
idyllic  charms  of 
Some  were  profes- 
•s  of  vineyards  or 
)mes  to  pass  that 
these  pages  in  a 
their  labors  for  a 


5SI0NS. 

a  great  variety  of 
responding  variety 
ondition  grew  out 
ccupations.  Thus 
ational  prosperity ; 
:ivity,  and  slavery. 
Lich  in  nationality 
thought,  figures  of 
sxpression.  Some 
on  the  tented  field ; 
parts  in  prison  and 
prosperity.     Some 


TJ/£  ARTLESS  HARMOS'Y  OF  THE  BIBLE.    183 

voices  echoed  in  the  wilderness,  and  some  from 
dark  and  loathsome  dens  and  caves  of  the  earth ; 
others  sounded  forth  with  every  opportunity  and 
privilege  of  national  peace  and  personal  prosperity. 
Some  writers  wrote  to  the  music  of  stormy  wave 
and  howling  wilderness;  others  in  the  midst  of 
smiling  fields  and  national  enthusiasm  and  inspira- 
tion.    Thus  each  writer  contributed  his  part  to  the 
imagery  employed,  the  thought  unfolded,  and  the 
truth  declared.     Some  writings   are  very  short; 
others  are  long  histories,  tracing  the  development 
of  the  divine  plan  in  its  manifold  relations  to  hu- 
man sin  and  sorrow.     Failure  and  success,  triumph 
and  defeat,  through  long  years,  meet  and  mingle 
on  the  pages  of  the  Bible  story.     Occasionally  we 
have  a  full-length  portrait  of  the  life  and  character 
of  some  great  actor  in  these  ancient  times  and  re- 
mote lands ;  again  we  have  simply  a  few  dashes  of 
the  brush,  giving  but  faint  outline  of  men  who 
appeared  but  a  moment  and  then  disappeared  into 
the  darkness  of  a  remote  past  and  into  the  shadows 
of  a  mysterious  story. 

Now  and  then  a  great  character  like  Melchisedek 
seems  magically  to  stand  before  the  reader ;  then 
he  disappears  for  centuries ;  then  with  dim  outlines 
shows  himself  again  in  his  heroic  personality ;  and 
finally  retreats  forever  into  the  shadows.  Some 
writers  draw  aside  the  historic  veil  of  the  remote 
past;  others  lift  to  our  wondering  eyes  the  curtain 
of  the  distant  future.     Some  are  concerned  with 


■i^m^ms&m^:^i-- 


ilMjB,«K3Wag5J5WWmit^'""^ 


1 84 


THE  OLD  HOOK. 


the  long  descriptions  of  ceremonial  observances; 
others  with  exhortations  to  duties  which  seem  to 
be  more  pressingly  important  and  to  be  immedi- 
ately present.  Some  rise  on  the  wings  of  faith 
and  hope  to  marvellous  heights  of  poetic  beauty 
and  religious  sublimity;  others  are  closely  logical, 
argumentative,  and  didactic.  Tender  appeal,  lov- 
ing exhortation,  solemn  warning,  hearty  commen- 
dation, and  wholesome  rebukes  are  found  in  close 
relationship  on  the  pages  of  this  remarkable  vol- 
ume. 

Thus  it  comes  to  pasr.  that  we  have  a  great  vari- 
ety in  the  contents  of  the  book.  We  have  senten- 
tious proverb,  glowing  lyric,  and  immortal  drama. 
With  the  exception  of  the  stately  epic,  almost 
every  kind  of  literature  is  found  on  its  pages. 
The  fable  of  secular  literature  becomes  the  parable 
of  inspiration;  the  ode  is  transformed  into  the 
psalm,  the  oracle  into  the  prophecy ;  and  histories 
of  this  world  are  exalted  into  histories  of  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Archbish  jp  Trench  has  reminded  us 
that  tragedy  is  not  wanting,  for  though  we  have  no 
CEdipus,  we  have  he  man  of  Uz,  and  for  the  "  tale 
of  Troy  divine  "  we  have  the  story  of  the  New 
Jerusalem  coming  down  out  of  heaven  as  a  bride 
adorned  for  her  husband.  Doubtless  all  these  ele- 
ments of  literature  were  necessary  to  the  perfection 
of  this  volume  as  a  revelation  from  God.  This 
book  was  to  be  the  leaven  that  should  leaven  all 
literature;    it  was  the  instrument  which  should 


~l 


OK. 

Tionial  observances; 
.ities  which  seem  to 
and  to  be  immedi- 
,  the  wings  of  faith 
Its  of  poetic  beauty 
s  are  closely  logical, 
Tender  appeal,  lov- 
ing, hearty  commen- 
s  are  found  in  close 
this  remarkable  vol- 

live  have  a  great  vari- 
c.  We  have  senten- 
ind  immortal  drama, 
stately  epic,  almost 
found  on  its  pages. 
:  becomes  the  parable 
ransformed  into  the 
phecy;  and  histories 
histories  of  the  king- 
;nch  has  reminded  us 
yc  though  we  have  no 
Uz,  and  for  the  "  tale 
e  story  of  the  New 
of  heaven  as  a  bride 
jubtless  all  these  ele- 
sary  to  the  perfection 
on  from  God.  This 
hat  should  leaven  all 
anient  which  should 


THE  ARTLESS  HARMONY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    185 

strengthen  all  literary  minds  and  hearts.  The 
Spirit  of  God  thus  sanctified  the  various  forms  of 
literature  which  should  make  their  appeal  to  the 
different  elements  in  our  composite  nature. 

There  is  also  great  variety  in  the  contents  of  this 
book.     We  have  the  history  of  the  creation  of  all 
races,  nations,  and  men.     We  have  an  account  of 
differing  institutions,  and   national  or    universal 
ordinances.     We  have  laws  for  life  in  its  relation 
to  God  and  man ;  we  have  revelations  of  God  teach- 
ing the  manifold  concernments  of  His  grace;  we 
have  prophecies  that  in  the  historic   record  have 
their  fulfilment;  we  have  God  speaking  now  by 
the  audible  voice,  and  now  in  dreams  and  visions; 
and  we  also  have  revelation  by  signs  and  symbols. 
There  are  also  great  differences  in  the  clearness 
with  which  God's  will  is  made  known.     The  whole 
stream  of  revelation  tends  toward  one  point,  the 
direction  differing  as  the  truths  revealed  differ; 
but  they  all  unite  in  revealing  the  glory  of  Jesus 
Christ  as  God  manifest  in  the  flesh.     We  might 
expect  great  reserve  on  the  part  of  God  in  making 
revelations  of  Himself.     Mysteries  in  revelation 
are  clearly  the  unavoidable  condition  of  any  reve- 
lation of  the  infinite  God  to  finite  man.     Wher- 
ever the  infinite  a.id  the  finite  meet,  insoluble  prob- 
lems necessarily  emerge.     These  difficulties  belong 
to  our  human  condition.     They  have  also  their 
practical   advantages;    they  encourage  diligence; 
they  develop  humility;    they   secure  reverence. 


1 86 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


All  revelation  in.pHes  obvclation.     The  infinite 
God  cannot  fully  r.veal  Himself  to  finite  man^ 
Did  God  draw  aside  the  veil,  the  light  would  blind 
U3  by  its  onghtness,  and  the  vision  would  awe  us 
by  its  heavenly  splendor.     Thus  revelation  is  pos- 
sible ..uly  as   it  is   accompanied   by  obvclation, 
Thus  we  have  in  the  Bible  passages  supernal  in 
their  light  and  beauty ;  others  calm,  pacific,  and 
majestic.     We  have  strong  meat  for  robust  men, 
and  we  have  siu. .  e  milk  for  growing  babes.     We 
have  streams  in    vhich  leviathan  can  swim,  and, 
as  has  been  said,  shoals  in  which  lambs  can  wade 
The  Scripture  pages,  like  the  leaves  of  the  tree  ol 
hfe  1.  >ar  twelve  manner  of  fruits.     Jesus  Christ  is 
the'dorious  Unifier  of  this  blessed  revelation;  in 
Him'r.s  blended  glories  meet,  and  on  His  brow  it 
places  its  many  crowns. 

Method,  not   System. 
AH  these  varieties  appear,  as  we  have  seen,  in 
the  Bible,  but  without  system.     Some  men  seem 
to  find  fault  with  the  Bible  because  it  is  not  sys- 
tematic  in  its  arrangement  of  topics  as  is  a  dic- 
tionary or  an  encyclopedia.     They  want  a  Bible 
whose  contents  are  classified    alphabetically  or 
topically.     This  is  an  utterly  senseless   demand 
We  shall  look  in  vain  in  the  Bible  for  a  system  of 
theology,  in  vain  for  a  formal  creed,  in  vam  for 
articles  of  faith.     There  is  no  code  of  laws  for  the 
government  of  conduct,  as  we  understand  these 


Jl 


n.     The  infinite 
If  to  finite  man. 
light  would  blind 
ion  would  awe  us 
revelation  is  pos- 
d  by  obvelation, 
(ages  supernal  in 
;alm,  pacific,  and 
t  for  robust  men, 
iwing  babes.     We 
n  can  swim,  and, 
1  lambs  can  wade, 
aves  of  the  tree  of 
J.     Jesus  Christ  is 
ised  revelation ;  in 
ind  on  His  brow  it 


STEM. 

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Some  men  seem 
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They  want  a  Bible 
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senseless   demand, 
ible  for  a  system  of 
1  creed,  in  vain  for 
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THE  ARTLESS  HARMONY  OF  THE  BIBLE.     187 

terms,  within  the  lids  of  the  Bible.     There  are  no 
minute  directions  for  conduct,  creed,  or  worship. 
There  are  no  cards  of  etiquette,  as  once  they  were 
issued,  and  to  some  degree  still  are,  at  many  Euro- 
pean and  other  courts.     We  have  in  the  Bible 
great    laws,    broad  principles,   profound    truths. 
Christ's  twofold  law,  supreme  love  to  God  and 
equal  love  to  man,  touches  life  at  every  point.     It 
meets  the  pastor  and  his  people,  the  physician  and 
his  patient,  the  lawyer  and  his  client.     God's  two 
books  of  creation  and  revelation  are  alike  in  this 
respect;  we  do  not  expect  classification,  system, 
order,  in  woods  or  fields,  nor  in  the  broad  pages  of 
the  Bible.     Just  in  proportion  as  we  find  these  we 
suspect  the  presence  of  art,  the  work  ©f  man's  de- 
vice, and  not  the  free  play  of  nature.     Certain 
products,  such  as  coal,  iron,  water,  wood,  and  grass, 
are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  world.     But  we  do  not 
find  botanical  gardens  in  nature ;  we  do  find  plants 
growing,  flowers  blooming,  and  trees  budding  and 
blossoming.     But  all  these  developments  of  nature 
are  in  charming  confusion.      Geological  cabinets 
we  do  not  expect  to  find  in  nature's  rocks;  cabi- 
nets of  fossils  we  do  expect  to  find  in  classifica- 
tions made  by  man.     Herbariums  are  good  and 
useful,  and  at  times  absolutely  necessary ;  but  the 
lover  of   flowers  who  wishes  to  rejoice  in  their 
delicate  perfume,  even  though  he  be  a  herbarian, 
prefers  fields  and  gardens  to  collections  of  dried 
plants,  however  systematically  they  may  be  ar- 


:!i»nBSK5ais;«!«i«swss»iUS(«tS4Ssasa3 


iSniT-Wm'iWvilM^iiVJ^- .'Jl'-^i'S^''''^*  i'>»'^''''-'^-^ 


1 88 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


ranged.  There  is  in  nature  an  orderly  disorder, 
an  unsystematic  system,  an  utter  absence  of  sci- 
entific classification. 

•  Method  is  truly  divine ;  system  is  merely  human. 
For  systems  of  doctrine  we  go  to  the  Nicene  and 
Athanasian  creeds  or  to  the  Westminster  Confes- 
sion of  Faith.  Here  we  get  systems  sometimes 
dry  as  dust  and  cold  as  ice.  Here  our  thinking  is 
all  done  for  us.  Here  is  the  procrustean  theolog- 
ical bed.  Here  the  theological  theory  is  the  Pro- 
crustes which  tortures  its  theological  neophytes  by 
stretching  or  lopping  off  their  legs  to  suit  the 
length  of  the  doctrinal  bed.  There  is  but  little 
room  for  spiritual  vitality  in  some  of  the  theologi- 
cal systems  ;  there  is,  however,  great  use  for  intel- 
lectual inanity  and  theological  vacuity.  Ceme- 
teries are  admirable  places  for  placidity,  uniformity, 
and  recumbency ;  but  true  vitality  prefers  the  vari- 
ety of  nature  and  of  the  Bible,  to  the  creeds  made 
by  men,  often  conspicuously  narrow,  and  occasion- 
ally warped  and  dwarfed  by  the  harshness  of  theo- 
logical systems. 

There  are  times,  doubtless,  when  we  should 
formulate  our  knowledge  of  the  Bible  into  clear 
and  definite  statement ;  and  the  truths  of  the  Bible 
admit  of  such  formulation.  But  the  Bible  itself  is 
ever  in  advance  of  such  statements.  It  has  an 
elasticity,  a  vitality,  and  a  resiliency  never  found 
in  man-made  creeds.  Doubtless  there  are  times 
when  we  ought  to  formulate  our  knowledge  of 


orderly  disorder, 
r  absence  of  sci- 

is  merely  human, 
the  Nicene  and 
itminster  Confes- 
stems  sometimes 
e  our  thinking  is 
;rustean  theolog- 
heory  is  the  Pro- 
cal  neophytes  by 
legs  to  suit  the 
lere  is  but  little 
;  of  the  theologi- 
eat  use  for  intel- 
vacuity.  Ceme- 
idity,  uniformity, 
r  prefers  the  vari- 
I  the  creeds  made 
ow,  and  occasion- 
arshness  of  theo- 

when  we  should 
Bible  into  clear 
luths  of  the  Bible 
the  Bible  itself  is 
lents.  It  has  an 
ency  never  found 
>  there  are  times 
ur  knowledge  of 


THE  ARTLESS  HARMONY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    189 

ornithology,  geology,  botany,  and  other  sciences ; 
but  such  formulations  are  poor  substitutes  for  the 
song  of  the  birds,  the  testimony  of  the  rocks,  and 
the  perfume  of  flowers.     Method  is  one  thing;  sys- 
tem is  quite  another.     System  belongs  to  cabinets, 
arboretums,   and  cemeteries;    method  belongs  to 
fields,  flowers,  and  groves.     Method  is  of  God; 
system  is  of  man.     Nature  is  God's  great  unwrit- 
ten Bible ;  revelation  is  God's  great  written  Bible. 
Method  marks  both ;   absence  of  system  is  char- 
acteristic of  both.     Neither  can  ever  be  exhausted. 
Both  would  be  exhausted  were  they  artificially  ar- 
ranged,  technically   classified,  and   minutely   la- 
belled.     It  has  been  said  that  the  Bible  is   "a 
wilderness,  as  some  choose  to  call  it,  but  a  wilder- 
ness of  sweets,  with  its  flowers  upon  their  .stalks, 
its  plants  freshly  growing,  the  dew  upon  their 
leaves,  the  mould  about  their  roots,  with  its  lowly 
hyssops  and  its  lofty  cedars  of  God." 

Creeds  necessarily  are  dry,  partial,  lifeless ;  often 
they  are  mischievous,  misrepresenting  or  conceal- 
ing truth.  Almost  invariably  and  unavoidably 
they  are  compromises.  Occasionally  they  are  un- 
sightly scaffolds  erected  by  men  around  the  temple 
of  celestial  truth.  Elaborate  creeds  sometimes 
lead  men  to  neglect  the  Word  of  God.  As  a  result, 
many  Christians  make  more  of  the  prayer-book 
compiled  by  men  than  they  do  of  the  Word  of  the 
living  God.  God  has  presented  truth  to  us  occa- 
sionally with  sufficient  reserve  to  stimulate  patient 


I 


,;^^ji|Sl^-^^®aSB««"«a***f  !**'***'^'™'*^^  "' 


190 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


inquiry,  to  encourage  prayerful  research,  and  to 
reward  consecrated  acquisition.  Let  us  ever  ear- 
nestly study  tiie  blessed  pages  of  this  Word  of  God, 
and  our  knowledge  shall  be  progressive,  but  never 
exhaustive.  No  man  can  ever  fathom  the  depths 
of  its  profundity  or  scale  the  heights  of  its  lofti- 
ness. Well  has  Henry  Ward  Bcecher  said:  "Its 
truths  are  like  gold  in  the  soil ;  whole  generations 
walk  over  it  and  know  not  what  treasures  are  hid- 
den beneath.  So  centuries  of  men  pass  over  the 
Scriptures  and  know  not  what  riches  lie  under 
the  feet  of  their  interpreters.  Sometimes  when 
they  discover  them,  they  call  them  new  truths. 
One  might  as  well  call  gold  newly  dug  up  new 
gold."  These  are  wise  words.  The  Bible,  like 
the  sky  or  the  ocean,  or  like  nature  as  a  whole,  is 
ever  new,  fresh,  and  beautiful.  It  arouses  the  un- 
abated interest  of  childhood;  it  commands  the  ad- 
miration of  youthhood,  and  it  fills  manhood  and 
womanhood  with  satisfaction,  joy,  and  peace.  No 
other  book  bears  reperusai  as  does  the  blessed 
Bible.  It  meets  the  demand  of  every  generation. 
It  is  in  very  truth,  as  the  apostle  Peter  afifirms, 
"  the  word  of  God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  for- 
ever. "     Well  may  we  pray  with  George  Herbert : 

"  Oh,  that  I  knew  how  all  Thy  lights  combine, 

And  the  configurations  of  their  glory  ! 

Seeing  not  only  how  each  verse  doth  shine, 

But  all  the  constellations  of  the  story." 


esearch,  and  to 
Let  lis  ever  ear- 
lis  Word  of  God, 
jssive,  but  never 
ithom  the  depths 
;hts  of  its  lofti- 
icher  said :  "  Its 
hole  generations 
■easurcs  are  hid- 
in  pass  over  the 
riches  lie  under 
Sometimes  when 
lem  new  truths, 
.vly  dug  up  new 
The  Bible,  like 
ire  as  a  whole,  is 
t  arouses  the  un- 
ommands  the  ad- 
lls  manhood  and 
,  and  peace.  No 
loes  the  blessed 
every  generation, 
le  Peter  afifirms, 
and  abideth  for- 
George  Herbert: 

hts  combine, 
ir  glory  ! 
doth  shine, 
he  story." 


THE   REMARKABLE   UNITY 
BIBLE. 


OF    THE 


I 


i 


,^^jSfe^?5*B*^-«i»»-?«i^S»*V-r>*.rt.M6ife'Jtti*e»SeK«^ 


XI. 


The  Remarkable  Unity  of  the  Bible. 

The  Bible  will  well  reward  the  most  patient 
study  of  the  most  careful  student.     New  beauties 
constantly  appear   upon    its   sacred   pages.     The 
more  scholarly  and  devout  are  its   students,  the 
more  beautiful  and  blessed  do  its  truths  become. 
Its  great  object,  as  we  have  already  seen,  is  to 
make  men  wise  unto  salvation.     The  science  of 
salvation  is  the  most  august  science  ever  pursued 
by  human  inquirer;  the  science  of  salvation  is  the 
loftiest  and  holiest  achievement  of  human  endeavor. 
God  cannot  indeed  be  fully  known.     We  now  see 
Him  and  all  spiritual  things  through  a  glass  darkly. 
We  now  know  Him,  not  as  He  is,  but  as  we  are. 
We  cannot  now  comprehend,  but  we  can  in  part 
apprehend  God.     God  has  graciously  made  known 
His  will  through  the  instrumentality  of  His  Word. 
He  might  have  accomplished  this  result  through 
the  medium  of  the  Bible,  even  though  it  were  a  f.v 
less  attractive  book  than  He  has  chosen  to  mak:: 
it.     The  beauty  of  His  word  is  one  of  its  chief 
glories.      No  one  can  ponder  its   pages   without 
being  attracted  by  their  peculiar  fascination.     The 
Bible  is  supreme  among  all  the  books  of  the  world. 
13 


i  f 

'I 

If 


■i,jfraiii.-aii>4l3/tfMfS'--ii&ASt^$.\ 


■»4*'.^^»^'i*4*KVi»*i'W***"i'^'^"-"^-^-^!^*'^^'*****^-'^*^*'- 


194 


THE  OLii  BOOK. 


It  is  the  oracle  of  oracles ;  it  is  the  light  of  light. 
It  has  depths  which  the  most  gigantic  intellect 
■  cannot  explore,  and  it  has  shallows  in  which  the 
lowliest  disciple  can  joyfully  wade.  The  charms 
of  music,  poetry,  painting,  and  sculpture  have  ex- 
ercised their  most  loving  ministry  in  illustration  of 
the  truths  contained  in  the  Bible,  but  they  have 
not  yet  told  all  which  these  truths  contain,  nor  re- 
vealed all  the  love  of  which  these  truths  are  a  faint 
expression. 

The  Bible  thus  possesses  many  of  the  most  laud- 
able characteristics  of  the  noblest  literature.  It, 
as  already  remarked,  as  the  revealed  Word,  is  as 
much  superior  to  the  words  of  uninspired  men, 
as  Christ,  as  the  incarnate  Word,  is  superior  to  all 
the  sons  of  Adam.  Pollok  has  not  exaggerated 
the  beauty  and  power  of  the  Bible  in  these  strik- 
ing lines: 

"  This  book,  this  holy  book,  on  every  line 
Marked  with  the  seal  of  high  divinity. 
On  every  leaf  bedewed  with  drops  of  love 
Divine,  and  with  th'  eternal  heraldry 
And  signature  of  God  Almighty  stamped. 
From  first  to  last,— this  ray  of  sacred  light, 
This  lamp  from  off  the  everlasting  throne, 
Mercy  took  down,  and  in  the  night  of  times 
Stood,  casting  on  the  dark  her  gracious  bow 
And  evermore  beseeching  men  with  tears 
And  earnest  sighs,  to  hear,  believe,  and  live." 

But  while  in  the  Bible  a  vast  variety  of  subjects 
is  discussed,  as  we  have  already  discovered  in  these 


REMARKABLE  UNITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.       19S 


the  light  of  light, 
gigantic  intellect 
lows  in  which  the 
ide.  The  charms 
sculpture  have  ex- 
•y  in  illustration  of 
ble,  but  they  have 
hs  contain,  nor  re- 
e  truths  are  a  faint 

y  of  the  most  laud- 
est  literature.  It, 
;ealed  Word,  is  as 
f  uninspired  men, 
d,  is  superior  to  all 
s  not  exaggerated 
ible  in  these  strik- 


i  every  line 
divinity, 
irops  of  love 
lieraldry 
ity  stamped. 
>f  sacred  light, 
isting  throne, 
!  night  of  times 
er  gracious  bow 
!n  with  tears 
lelieve,  and  live." 

t  variety  of  subjects 
•  discovered  in  these 


lectures,  there  is  one  dominant  thought  pervading 
the  inspired  record  from  Genesis  to  Revelation. 
That  thought  is  worthy  of  our  careful  considera- 
tion;   that  thought  is  the  glorious  diapason,  the 
concordant,    unitive,   pervasive,    and    controlling 
note  of  the  entire  volume.     While  the  book  lacks 
systematic   arrangement,  it   possesses  a  genuine 
and  a  discoverable  organic  unity.     All  great  com- 
positions possess  this  characteristic  in  a  more  or 
less  marked  degree.     Some  writers  designedly  veil 
their  controlling  purpose,  believing  that  if  it  were 
conspicuous  it  would  detract  somewhat  from  the 
charm  of  the  volume.     But  whether  or  not  writers 
conceal  the  method  by  which  they  attain  to  unity 
of  thought  and  purpose,  the  unity  must  be  there 
or  the  book  will  be  greatly  lessened  in  its  value. 
Sometimes  the  concealment  of  the  purpose  of  the 
volume  may  all  the  more  conduce  to  the  attain- 
ment of  the  end  sought.     "  Uncle  Tom's  Cabin  " 
could  not  conceal  its  dominant  design;  perhaps 
the  conspicuity  of  the  design  is  greater  by  its  be- 
ing wrapped  up  in  a  thrilling  story  than  if  it  were 
didactically  declared.     That  volume  is  the  epoch- 
making  book  of  the  last  half  century.     Careful 
consideration  of  the  literature  of  the  period,  on 
both  sides  of  the  Atlantic,  will  not  modify  but  will 
confirm  this  statement.    That  book  coined  bullets, 
made  cannons  boom,  rifles  crack,  and  swords  flash. 
It  directed  forensic  eloquence,   modified  judicial 
decisions,  and  influenced  international  relations. 


'ia^»»KSWi*JSS5»3-!J-'->?,w<ii.«f^rtrwv.'3l--a-:JI««*»'«'^^ 


r"ii^^>^i-^m~^e'^^\^.'£^'^''^-^!s:i^'--o^"!:^~ 


19* 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


That  book  precipitated  public  thought  and  changed 
Ae  d^tiny  of  millions.     It  may  not  always  have 
l^en   orrect  in  its  descriptions,  not  always  accurate 
ri"s  Undents,  not  always  wise  in  its  assignment 
ofmoWcs-  but  it  had  a  definite  purpose;  U  never 
ir  iThtof  its  ,„/««rfV«;  it  moved  cor^tantly 
"ndufesistibly  toward  its  goal;  and  ,t  suH™ely 
accomplished  its  great  purpose.     The  cha  n,  ol 
bondage  were  struck  from  four  m.ll.ons  of  slaves 
a^d  a  woman's  pen  stabbed  the  monster  slavery  to 
2  heart.    There  was  a  superb  literary  un.  y  and 
"e  moral  unity  in  the  book  f-  begmmng 
to  end.    This  unity  was  never  forgo  ten,  whether 
Us  descriptions  were  poetic  or  denunaatory  laugh- 
able or  lachrymal,  or  whether  the  conduct  .t  de- 
oicted  were  satanic  or  angelic. 

All  really  great  books  must  possess  th.s  charac- 
tert"rTh!  stream  of  thought  must  flow  hke  a 
„v  r     It  will  now  deepen  and  now  broaden, 
:m  now  have  its  eddies  in  which  Ae  stream  wm 
for  a  time  go  in  a  direction  opposite  to  its  usiMl 
tr  nd    but  the  waters  and  the  eddies  will  soon  be 
^iek  into  the  main  current,  and  will  thus  sweep 
Cram    one  direction.     Every  great    speeh 
such  as  that  of  Burke  in  his  impeachment  of  Lord 
Hastings  or  of  Webster  in  his  reply  to  Hayne 
"tTcharacteri^ed  by  unity  of  thought  and 

tenguage.  The  greatest  works  comply  with  this 
eTsStial  law  of  making  a  powerful  im,«ct  on  he 
mnd  of  reader  or  hearer.     Any  marked  violation 


tought  and  changed 
ly  not  always  have 
not  always  accurate 
50  in  its  assignment 
e  purpose ;  it  never 
it  moved  constantly 
1 ;  and  it  sublimely 
se.     The  chains  of 
r  millions  of  slaves, 
•  monster  slavery  to 
rb  literary  unity  and 
)ook  from  beginning 
r  forgotten,  whether 
denunciatory,  laugh- 
r  the  conduct  it  de- 

t  possess  this  charac- 
ight  must  flow  like  a 
and  now  broaden,  it 
jvhich  the  stream  will 
opposite  to  its  usual 
le  eddies  will  soon  be 
It,  and  will  thus  sweep 
Every  great    speech, 
impeachment  of  Lord 
,  his  reply  to  Hayne, 
unity  of  thought  and 
3rks  comply  with  this 
(owerful  impact  on  the 
Any  marked  violation 


A'A. V.4 A" A'.-l /?/./•;   VXITY  OF  TJIK  H/IU.E.      IQ? 

of  this  law  will  rob  any  work,  whether  it  be  rhe- 
torical, musical,  or  artistic,  of  no  small  element  of 
the  power  which  otherwise  it  would  possess.  There 
must  he  concentration  if  there  is  to  be  powerful 
impression.  Adam  Smith,  spending  ten  years  on 
the  "Wealth  of  Nations,"  Gibbon  giving  twenty 
years  to  his  "  Decline  and  Fall  of  the  Roman  Em- 
pire," Webster  spending  thirty-six  years  on  his  dic- 
tionary, and  Bancroft  twenty-six  years  on  his  "  His- 
tory of  the  United  States  "  are  illustrations  of  the 
value  of  unity  of  purpose,  concentration  of  aim, 
and  continuity  of  effort.  One  important  element 
of  genius  is  intensity;  indeed,  genius  may  be  de- 
fined as  willingness  and  abil'ty  to  do  tremendously 
hard  work.  The  man  with  one  talent  concentrated 
upon  a  definite  object  will  soon  accomplish  more 
than  the  man  with  ten  talents  scattering  his  ener- 
gies in  a  variety  of  directions.  Scientists  tell  us 
that  if  the  power  of  the  sun  scattered  over  an  acre 
of  ground  should  be  concentrated  upon  a  given 
spot,  its  power  would  be  well-nigh  incalculable. 
There  must  he,  in  order  to  success  in  any  depart- 
ment of  life>  endeavor,  unity  of  purpose  and  defi- 
niteness  of  aim.  A  small  amount  of  powder  con- 
centrated into  a  :annon  will  accomplish  more  than 
many  barrels  of  powder  exploded  in  an  acre  lot. 
Not  otherwise  is  it  in  moral  and  spiritual  endeavors. 
The  apostle  Paul  taught  us  a  great  lesson  when  he 
said:  "This  one  thing  I  do."  The  man  who 
follows  his  example,  even  though  his  talent  be 


i 


-":(3^9nr33^'^^at3(E»nBP?ss?'v?;5RwrepiK3B^KB'^ 


'■.■ma?;:-'  -y^^ :  J  "-'='''g-;gatgJ?st^-'  V.  JT- w^K-'^-V.? 


Tii-.^'-i-wm- 


igS 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


comparatively  little,  will  not  fail  of  commendable 
success  in  life.     There  should  be  in  every  life-his- 
tory one  pervasive,  unitive,  and  dominant  thought. 
There  should  be  in  every  oratorio  a  discoverable 
diapason.     A  man  who  is  sufficiently  skilled  in 
music,  standing  by  Niagara  Falls  and  listening  to 
the  roar  of  its  thundering  waters,  could  write  the 
score  of  the  song  which  these  waters  sing.     Pos- 
sessed of  similar  talent,  a  man  standing  opposite  a 
rippling;  glancing,  singing  brook  could  also  write 
the  score  of  its  melodious  and  soothing  song.     The 
thundering  fall  and  the  singing  brook  each  has  its 
diapason.     Not  otherwise  is  it  in  every  true  life, 
in  every  great  book,  in  every  truly  artistic  paint- 
ing, noble  sculpture,  or  worthy  work  of  any  sort. 

With  this  thought  in  mind  we  may  examine  for 
its  fuller  illustration  Milton's   "Paradise  Lost," 
any  of  Shakespeare's  plays,  Tennyson's  poems,  or 
any  works  of  modern  or  ancient  times,  in  prose  or 
in  poetry.     Some  writers  may  partially  conceal  the 
unity  of  their  work,  and  some  students  may  not  be 
skilful  in  discovering  this  unity  even  when  it  is 
present.     But  it  can  be  recognized  in  any  work 
of  man  possessing  elements  of  worth  and  destined 
long  to  survive.     This  unity  is  clearly  seen  in  the 
Bible.     We  have  here  a  collection  of  books  which, 
to  the  superficial  observer,  are  not  linked  together 
by  any  unitive  thought.     These  writings  represent 
many  centuries,  many  writers,  many  civilizations. 
We  have  here  histories  ancient  and  comparatively 


ill  of  commendable 
be  in  every  lif e-his- 
3  dominant  thought, 
itorio  a  discoverable 
ifficiently  skilled  in 
alls  and  listening  to 
ters,  could  write  the 
J  waters  sing.      Pos- 
i  standing  opposite  a 
ook  could  also  write 
soothing  song.     The 
ig  brook  each  has  its 
it  in  every  true  life, 
■  truly  artistic  paint- 
ly  work  of  any  sort. 
I  we  may  examine  for 
's   "Paradise  Lost," 
rennyson's  poems,  or 
ent  times,  in  prose  or 
f  partially  conceal  the 
;  students  may  not  be 
inity  even  when  it  is 
:ognized  in  any  work 
Df  worth  and  destined 
is  clearly  seen  in  the 
jction  of  books  which, 
re  not  linked  together 
ese  writings  represent 
fs,  many  civilizations. 
;nt  and  comparatively 


REMARKABLE  UNITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.      199 

modern,  biographies  long  and  intricate,  and  others 
extremely  short  and  apparently  of  only  passing  in- 
terest, prophecies  glowing  with  rhetoric,  throbbing 
with  patriotism,  and  joyous  in  hope,  or  sobbing 
in  grief;  lyrics  possessing  in  marked  degree  the 
highest  qualities  of  this  most  persuasive  and  stim- 
ulating literature;  a  great  poem,  abounding  in 
examples  both  of  drama  and  tragedy ;  and  yet  all 
pervaded  by  a  unitive  purpose,  and  all  tending  tow- 
ard a  definite  end.  We  might  well  ask  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  library  which  we  call  the  Bible,  with 
its  almost  unrivalled  diversity  of  thought,  writers, 
subjects,  styles,  and  centuries,  whether  any  degree 
of  unity  was  possible  in  the  midst  of  such  a  vari- 
ety. Some  critics  are  perhaps  ready  to  say  that 
the  Bible  is  simply  a  jumble  of  history,  legend, 
speculation,  and  superstition.  Is  there  one  domi- 
nant thought  in  this  volume  ?  Does  it  possess  a 
pervasive  spirit.'  Is  there  one  superintending, 
controlling,  and  supreme  mind  found  in  this  vol- 
ume.' There  is  no  hesitation  in  answering  all 
these  questions  with  an  earnest  affirmative.  Each 
book  is  animated  by  the  same  spirit ;  each  forms 
an  essential  part  of  the  whole.  The  great  diver- 
sity in  the  books  of  the  Bible  is  not  only  con- 
sistent with  its  perfect  unity,  but,  properly  under- 
stood, is  a  necessary  part  of  that  unity. 


<liaii*»rif'W*A«*'^i:>';»^"»'v'*J 


200 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Other  Examples  of  Unity. 
No  true  student  of  nature  will  deny  the  unity  of 
this  material  world.     As  he  studies  the  great  book 
of  nature,   whether  its  leaves  be  rocks,    flowers 
meadows,   butterflies'    wings,    the   changing   sky, 
or  the  composite  nature  of  man,  he  will  find  unity 
pervading  this  vast  book  of  nature.      He  will  rec- 
ognize its    deep    mysteries   and    its   occasionally 
apparent  contradictions.     He  will  see  that  its  rec- 
ord in  creation  is  written  in  the  language  of  fire 
and  storm,  and  sometimes  in  the  rending  earth- 
quake.    But  this  glorious  book  has  its  prophecies, 
its  poems,  and  its  psalters,  and  its  divine  thoughts 
written    in    geology,    astronomy,    chemistry,    and 
biology.     Its  subjects  are  many,  but  when  all  are 
understood  it  will  be  seen  to  be  one  story  of  crea- 
tion, one  history  of  providence,  one  song  of  hu- 
manity and  divinity.     All  true  scientific  students 
know  that    many  subjects    in    physical  sciences 
which  were  once  thought  to  be  entirely  distinct 
are  now  seen  as  tending  to  coalesce.     The  natural 
forces  of  light,  heat,  and  electricity  show  their  in- 
herent unity.     Not  otherwise  is  it  in  the  domain 
of  animals  and  plants.     Indeed,  text-books  have 
been  prepared,  as  Principal  Dawson  has  reminded 
us,  to  teach  the  unity  of  relationship  between  ap- 
parently distinct  sciences.     The  name  physiography 
has  been  given  to  this  new  science  which  already 
has  proved  its  value  to  the  broad  scientific  student. 


K. 

F   UntTY. 

11  deny  the  unity  of 
dies  the  great  book 

be  rocks,  flowers 
the  changing  sky, 
1,  he  will  find  unity 
ture.  He  will  rec- 
id  its  occasionally 
vill  see  that  its  rec- 
he  language  of  fire 

the  rending  earth- 
c  has  its  prophecies, 
I  its  divine  thoughts 
ny,  chemistry,  and 
ny,  but  when  all  are 
le  one  story  of  crea- 
:e,  one  song  of  hu- 
le  scientific  students 
n  physical  sciences 
be  entirely  distinct 
ilesce.  The  natural 
Lricity  show  their  in- 

is  it  in  the  domain 
2cd,  text-books  have 
)awson  has  reminded 
;ionship  between  ap- 
lie  name  physiography 
cience  which  already 
jad  scientific  student. 


REMARKABLE  UNITY  OF  THE 


20I 


All  great  scientists  see  instantly  and  constantly 
the  law  of  unity  in  diversity  in  their  various  de- 
partments of  inquiry.  This  unity  in  diversity  the 
Bible  long  ago  beautifully  illustrated.  Scientists 
are  now  slowly  discovering  what  the  Bible  long 
ago  fully  and  powerfully  declared.  The  more  the 
Bible  is  studied  in  all  its  parts,  the  more  conspic- 
uously will  it  be  seen  that  its  structure  is  not  me- 
chanical but  organic;  that  it  is  not  put  together 
like  a  human  machine,  but  is  organized  and  devel- 
oped as  is  the  human  body.  There  is  similar  unity 
in  the  human  body.  This  fact  inspired  writers 
employ  to  illustrate  the  unity  of  the  Church.  We 
have  legs,  arms,  feet,  hands,  eyes,  mouth,  fingers, 
toes,  bones,  muscles,  tissues,  and  skin ;  and  yet  all 
of  these  are  but  members  of  one  body.  In  like 
manner  the  Bible  is  but  one  book,  though  made 
up  of  many  parts ;  and  each  part  is  animated  by 
the  principle  which  pervades  the  whole.  From 
Genesis  to  Revelation  there  is  a  steady  progress 
of  spiritual  truth  in  the  development  of  God's 
great  purposes  toward  man. 

Similar  unity  is  seen  in  many  great  buildings. 
They  have  their  foundation,  their  walls,  their  roof, 
but  all  these  separate  parts  constitute  but  one 
building.  Many  great  buildings  represent  the 
thought  of  different  architects  in  different  centu- 
ries. The  expert  can  discover  the  architecture 
of  the  classical  period,  of  the  Norman,  the  early 
English,  and  the  later  periods.     Warwick  Castle 


-:i»MS'^^Pi*'«SS7-~ '" 


aci 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


as  it  is  seen  from  the  exterior  is  but  a  jumble  of 
the  styles  of  many  men  in  many  centaries.      But 
within  there  is  seen  to  be  a  perfect  unity  in  design 
and  in  execution.      Not  otherwise  is  it    in   the 
Bible.     It  is  made  up  of  many  streams,  but  all 
belong   to   one   mighty   river,  flowing    from   the 
throne  of  God.     All  these  streams  unite  in  the 
one  great  river  of  salvation,  and  thus  flow  forward 
to  the  ocean  of  eternity.     This  unity  in  the  Bible 
is  as  marked  as  that  of  the  seed  dropped  into  the 
ground.     The  whole  Word  of  God  is  in  germ  in 
the  book  of  Genesis ;  and  the  progressive  develop- 
ment of  the  Bible  is  one  of  the  charms  of  this 
wondrous  volume.     The  earnest  student  sees  that 
the  Bible  is  not  a  mechanism  but  an  organism, 
and  that  the  divine  Spirit  breathes  through  all  its 
parts.     It  has  no  artificial  members,  no  incongru- 
ous elements,   no  monstrous   portions.      All   are 
parts  of  a  complete  and   beautiful  whole.     This 
truth  cannot  be  too  frequently  nor  too  earnestly 
impressed  upon  the  mind  of  all  readers  of  the 
sacred  pages. 

In  harmony  with  this  unity  we  find  the  inspired 
writers  quoting  from  one  another.  Each  supports 
the  affirmations  and  buttresses  the  declarations  of 
the  other.  All  have  a  unifying  influence,  and  all 
tend  to  a  completed  whole.  All  its  parts  are  ma- 
terials in  the  same  majestic  temple ;  all  the  parts 
are  notes  in  the  same  sublime  oratorio.  In  this 
spirit  Christ  used  the  Old  Testament.     It  has 


3  but  a  jumble  of 
r  centaries.  But 
:t  unity  in  design 
ise  is  it   in   tlie 

streams,  but  all 
lowing  from  the 
ims  unite  in  the 
thus  flow  forward 
inity  in  the  Bible 
,  dropped  into  the 
rod  is  in  germ  in 
Dgressive  develop- 
le  charms  of  this 

student  sees  that 
but  an  organism, 
les  through  all  its 
bers,  no  incongru- 
ortions.  All  are 
iful  whole.     This 

nor  too  earnestly 
ill  readers  of  the 

e  find  the  inspired 
;r.  Each  supports 
the  declarations  of 
I  influence,  and  all 
U  its  parts  are  ma- 
iple;  all  the  parts 
:  oratorio.  In  this 
estament.     It  has 


REMARKABLE  UNITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.     203 

three  great  voices,  the  Law,  the  Prophets,  and  the 
Psalms ;  but  it  is  all  one  book.     The  burden  of 
its  testimony  was  the  coming  of  the  Christ  of 
God.     The    Pentateuch   illustrates    the  epistles; 
the  gospels  complete  the  prophecies ;  the  epistle 
to  the  Hebrews  expands,  defines,  and  enforces  the 
book  of  Leviticus.     This  harmony  of  parts  would 
be  impossible  were  it  not  for  the  unity  of  the 
whole.     If  we  take  up  a  volume  by  uninspired 
writers  covering  a  period  as  long  as  that  covered 
by  the  Bible,  and  including  as  great  a  variety  of 
subjects  and  authorities  as  there  are  in  the  Bible, 
this  volume  being  bound  together  as  are  the  books 
of  the  Bible,  it  would  contain  an  utterly  hetero- 
geneous mass  of  material,  and  would  be  a  hopeless 
jumble  of   statements,   allusions,  and  arguments. 
The  purpose  of  the  Bible  declares,  necessitates, 
and  reveals  its  unity.     We  have  already  seen  that 
it  is  not  a  text-book  of  geology,  botany,  astron- 
omy, or  of  any  of  the  sciences.     We  have  also 
seen  that  it   is  the  great  text-book  of  salvation. 
Its  chief  design  is  to  restore  man  to  God's  like- 
ness.    Nothing  that  is  revealed  in  this  volume  is 
foreign  to  this  peculiar  design.     All  of  the  disclos- 
ures bear  on  this  end.     Only  such  history,  and 
that  of  such  nations,  is  given  as  is  necessary  to  the 
development,  illustration,  and  affirmation  of  the 
purpose  of  the  volume.     This  is  why  the  history 
of  Israel  has  so  much  prominence.     This  is  why 
other  nations  are  only  mentioned  in  relation  to 


^t^KaWfJUUK'^t 


304  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

Israel.  The  chief  purpose  of  the  book  is  over 
present  in  all  the  wanderings  of  the  patriarchs,  m 
all  the  domestic  relations  described,  and  in  the 
proverbs,  psalms,  precepts,  promises,  warnings  and 

threatenings. 

This  unity  is  entirely  independent  of  external 
accidents;  it  is  that  of  inward  coherence,  that  of 
spiritual  intensity,  and  that  of  divine  intuition;  it 
is  deeper  than  all  outward  circumstance,  intenser 
than  all  mechanical  relations.  It  is  the  unity 
which  is  found  between  seed  and  fruit,  between 
body  and  spirit,  between  human  need  and  divine 

supply.  ,         ,, 

It  is  thus  seen  that  the  Bible  is  the  whole  world 
in  miniature.     It  is  the  product  of  the  eternal  pur- 
pose of  the  eternal  mind  which  pervades  all  crea- 
tion, all  providence,  and  all  revelation. '  There  is 
thus  in  the  Bible  an  inseparable  unity  between  all 
its  parts  and  its  divine  design-the  redemption  of 
man  in  Jesus  Christ.     In  one  of  his  grandest  out- 
bursts of  almost    superhuman  eloquence,   Henry 
Ward  Beecher  illustrates  the  unity  of  the  Bible 
by  comparing  it  to  Beethoven's  matchless  music. 
He  tells  us  how  one  idea  is  worked  out  in  this 
music  through  all  the  changes  of  measure  and  of 
key  now  it  is  almost  hidden,  and  now  breaks  out 
in  rich,  natural  melody;  then  it  is  "whispered  in 
the  treble,  murmured  in  the  bass,  dimly  suggested 
in  the  prelude,  but  growing  clearer  and  clearer  as 
the  work  proceeds,  winding  gradually  back  until 


REMARKABLE  UNITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.      205 


the  book  is  ever 
the  patriarchs,  in 
ibed,  and  in  the 
ises,  warnings  and 

ndent  of  external 
coherence,  that  of 
livine  intuition ;  it 
imstance,  intenser 
It  is  the  unity 
md  fruit,  between 
I  need  and  divine 

is  the  whole  world 
of  the  eternal  pur- 
i  pervades  all  crea- 
irelation, '  There  is 
t  unity  between  all 
-the  redemption  of 
if  his  grandest  out- 
eloquence,   Henry 
unity  of  the  Bible 
s  matchless  music, 
worked  out  in  this 
i  of  measure  and  of 
and  now  breaks  out 
it  is  "  whispered  in 
iss,  dimly  suggested 
learer  and  clearer  as 
gradually  back  until 


it  ends  in  the  key  in  which  it  began,  and  closes 
in   triumphant    harmony."     Thus  he  shows  that 
throughout  the  whole  Bible  there  runs  one  great 
idea.     This  idea  is  man  ruined  by  sin,  and  his  re- 
demption by  grace.     This  result  is  found  in  Jesus 
Christ,  the  Son  of  God  and  Saviour  of  men.    This 
thought  was  typified  in  the  sanctions  of  the  law ; 
it  was  even  dimly  promised  at  the  fall,  and  then 
more  clearly  to  Abraham.     Christ  is  the  Shiloh 
spoken  of  by  Jacob ;  he  is  called  the  star  by  Ba- 
laam ;  the  Prophet  by  Moses ;  the  Redeemer  looked 
for  by  Job,  and  the  "  Beloved "  of  the   Song  of 
Songs.     Thus  we  may  find  Christ  in  the  sublime 
strains  of  Isaiah,  in  the  weird  visions  of  Daniel, 
and  in  the  profound  mysteries  of  Ezekiel.     In  the 
fulness  of  time  the  angels  sang  their  song  over  the 
plains  of  Bethlehem,  "  Glory  to  God  in  the  high- 
est, and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward  men." 
Jesus  Christ  was  the  key-note  of  that  angelic  ora- 
torio.    He  is  the  diapason  of  the  redemptive  song 
from  Genesis   to  Revelation.     He  is  the  unitive 
element  in  the  Bible.     He  is  the  concordant  note 
in  humanity. 

The  same  thought  of  unity  is  seen  everywhere 
in  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  thought  the 
apostles  emphasize  and  illustrate.  As  the  body 
has  many  parts  and  is  yet  one  body,  so  each  local 
church  has  many  members  and  is  yet  one  body. 
In  like  manner  many  local  churches  unite  as  nec- 
essary parts  of  a  common  whole,  to  form  one  de- 


Ti  Ji«sa9se*!j  ^i^'-'^R'-i**'^' V  r  V 


2o6 


THE  OLD  nOOK. 


nomination  of  Christians;  and  in  a  larger  sense, 
in  their  social  unity  many  bodies  of  Christians 
unite  in  the  one  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  Jesus 
Christ  is  the  unifier  of  the  Bible,  the  unifier  of 
each  local  church,  and  the  unifier  of  all  true 
churches  of  every  name.  And  He  will  eventually 
be  the  unifier  of  the  redeemed  earth  and  the  re- 
vealed heaven,  when  the  holy  city,  the  new  Jerusa- 
lem, shall  come  down  from  God  out  of  heaven,  pre- 
pared as  a  bride  adorned  for  her  husband.  Jesus 
Christ  will  be  the  light,  life,  unity,  and  glory  of 
that  heavenly  city. 


n  a  larger  sense, 
ies  of  Christians 
us  Christ.  Jesus 
Ic,  the  unifier  of 
lifier  of  all  true 
le  will  eventually 
:arth  and  the  re- 
,',  the  new  Jerusa- 
ut  of  heaven,  prc- 
•  husband.  Jesus 
lity,  and  glory  of 


THE   ANCIENT   HISTORY   OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


jrarv^f^  n- J  --^ 


XII. 


The  Ancient  Historv  ok  the  Riule. 

What  is  history?     Many  answers   have  been 
given  to  this  question.     We  shall  not  be  in  error 
when  we  reply  that  history  is  a  systematic  narra- 
tive of  events  in  v/hich  man  has  participated.     A 
history  may  be  called  a  chronicle  when  it  is  simply 
a  record  of  successive  times.     It  is  properly  called 
a  narrative  when  it  is  only  a  story  of  events.     But 
hi.story,  in  the  modern  sense  of  the  term,  takes  ac- 
count of  the  causes  of  events,  and  the  consequences 
resulting  from  their  occurrence.     This  new  element 
in  history  makes  it  a  science  or  a  philosophy.     Until 
about  the  time  of  the  Reformation,  history  was 
chiefly  narrative  or  chronicle ;  it  consisted,  for  the 
most  part^.  merely  of  annals.     But  with  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Reformation,  there  came  a  new  ele- 
ment in  history;  there  came  then  to  be  a  history 
of  history.     The  old  historians  were  satisfied  with 
giving  us  only  a  bare  recital  of  events;  the  newer 
histories  accompanied  the  recital  by  philosophical 
reflections,  attempting  to  discover  the  mutual  rela- 
tions of  events  and  the  consequences  to  which  they 
led.     This  element  in  history  was  illustrated  with 
great  force  and  propriety  in  connection  with  the 
14 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 

izcd  upon  that  rcmarKaoi^  ,iurovcr  the  po- 

a„<l  which  proCccl  -"'"^^     -r^i,  thought 

lectually,  socially,  »"''/='"5'' "'  ^„ria,e  subject  ot 

I  ..  tutnrical  events  an  appropriate        i 
n,akcs  ^^^'^i:^^\        ^^  ,„,,onby  of  the  name  of 
crmcsm.   J^  J^^^^^^  ^,^.,,,,3  of  history  except 
'"'r"     h  w     Xto  esth.ate  its  causes  and 
^"  T  Thl    ev     nt  historian   will   trace  the 
results.      Ihe   rev  development  of   moral 

g,eat   7--^,tl  Wtothev^^^^^^        P-idence 
principle  and  finally  to  tne  .ecntowork 

of  God.    -Thepurposeo   God  -^^^^^^^^^^        ^^^^ 
without  cessation  m  numan 

-"™t°yxr;trchurhU.o\e 

in  view.  Dr.  ^^nan  purpose  of 

"the  unfolding  -    ^    fJ';:;Tessive  develop- 

n,ent  of  the  king  ^^^.^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^.^ij. 

Whf  Dr  Sch  ff  has  here  said  of  church  history 

^.  in  its  ultimate  reach  of  all  history.    The 
IS  true  m  »ts  ultirna  ^.^^^^^  ^^ 

distinction  between  secular  an  ^^ 

largely  an  artificial  ^-^-tio".  Jo   he  .^ 

,oul  all  ^.^^^.X^^^^^^^^^^  hand  be- 

dent.  inspired  by  this  spir   .  ^.^^^^_ 

tr^irrirrci'r^en  therewith  all 


THE  ANCIENT  llISTOk  V  OF  THE  Hi/ll.R     a  1 1 


ents  of  the  various 
lint  of  view,  moral- 
;ional  and  intcrna- 
to  discover  the  po- 
ich  entered  into  it, 
kablc  results,  intel- 
isly.     This  thought 
propriatc  subject  of 
rlhy  of  the  name  of 
Its  of  history  except 
nate  its  causes  and 
rian   will   trace  the 
velopment  of   moral 
verruling  providence 
I  will  be  seen  to  work 
events,  carrying  out 
1.    With  that  thought 
church  history  to  be 
:he  eternal  purpose  of 
progressive  develop- 
eaven  upon  earth,  for 
dvation  of  the  world, 
said  of  church  history 
1  of  all  history.    The 
.r  and  sacred  history  is 
ition.     To  the  reverent 
A  true  historical  stu- 
it,  sees  God's  hand  be- 
sees  God's  hand  direct- 
woven  the  web  with  all 


the  colors  of  human  thought  and  life.  Not  only 
ill  matters  of  history,  hut  in  rnrrcnt  events  gener- 
ally, wc  have  made  too  wide  a  separation  between 
what  we  call  sacred  and  secular  things.  God  has 
never  withdrawn  from  the  rulcrphip  of  this  wotkl ; 
the  pierced  hand  of  Jesus  Christ  is  on  the  helm 
of  the  universe,  guiding  all  its  events,  great  and 
small,  for  the  good  of  man  and  the  glory  of  God. 

The  Bible  Ancient  History. 

The  Bible  gives  us  an  ancient  record  of  primi- 
tive events.  It  takes  us  back  to  the  very  dawn 
of  human  life  and  to  the  beginnings  of  all  the 
great  movements  which  have  culminated  in  the 
civilizations  of  all  the  races  of  men.  Moses  has 
given  us  an  account  of  the  creation,  brief,  vivid, 
comprehensive,  and  majestic.  His  purpose  was 
not  so  much  to  show  how  the  world  and  man  were 
made,  as  to  declare  that  God  was  the  Maker  of 
both.  In  this  early  history  we  are  told  of  the 
origin  of  the  material  universe  and  the  creation  of 
the  human  race;  we  are  instructed  as  to  the  be- 
ginning of  sin  and  death;  we  are  also  informed 
regarding  various  institutions,  such  as  the  Sab- 
bath and  marriage,  and  of  the  great  emigrations 
by  which  the  earth  was  civilized.  This  early  his- 
tory is  .not  intended,  in  the  modern  sense,  to  be 
scientific;  but,  as  we  have  already  seen,  there  is  no 
absolute  proof  that  any  statement  in  this  primitive 
record  is  untrue  to  the  facts  of  science  as  they  are 


212 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


established  by  the  latest  scholarship.  In  this  early 
record  we  learn  of  the  weakness  of  man,  of  his  de- 
strud  ion  by  the  flood,  of  the  preservation  of  right- 
eous Noah  and  his  family,  of  the  call  of  Abraham, 
and  the  rise  of  the  Hebrew  people,  of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  new  nation,  and  of  the  characteristics 
of  its  political  and  religious  history.  We  learn 
also  of  the  relations  of  this  peculiar  nation  to  God 
and  to  the  earth.  We  have  to  follow  the  record 
of  the  beginning  of  God's  law  with  the  dimly  sug- 
gested promises  regarding  the  great  redemption 
which  reached  its  noonday  light  and  glory  in  Jesus 
Christ.  This  record  is  of  the  utmost  value  to  all 
students  of  history.  It  is  not  free  from  its  diffi- 
culties, any  more  than  are  questions  of  physical 
science  and  of  mental  philosophy ;  but  apart  from 
all  theory  this  history  remains  as  one  of  the  most 
valuable  records  ever  given  to  the  human  race. 

We  discover  that  these  inspired  writers,  espe- 
cially in  those  primitive  records,  deal  not  so  much 
with  doctrine  as  with  events.  The  result  is  that 
they  give  us  a  history  which  is  in  no  narrow  sense 
a  history  of  the  race.  It  is  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance that  such  a  history  should  be  absolutely 
truthful,  that  the  record  should  be  in  full  harmony 
with  the  facts  thus  recorded.  Other  nations  have 
given  us  various  histories,  some  of  which  are  ex- 
tremely valuable  in  themselves  considered  and  be- 
cause of  the  light  which  they  throw  upon  the  his- 
tory of  the  Hebrew  nation  as  it  is  recorded  on  the 


-fx:-.   ..— .-■:;^- 


irship.     In  this  early 
:ss  of  man,  of  his  de- 
preservation  of  right- 
the  call  of  Abraham, 
eople,  of  the  forma- 
f  the  characteristics 
history.     We  learn 
jculiar  nation  to  God 
to  follow  the  record 
r  with  the  dimly  sug- 
he  great  redemption 
ht  and  glory  in  Jesus 
e  utmost  value  to  all 
^t  free  from  its  diffi- 
uestions  of  physical 
•phy ;  but  apart  from 
s  as  one  of  the  most 
)  the  human  race, 
ispired  writers,  espe- 
•ds,  deal  not  so  much 
The  result  is  that 
is  in  no  narrow  sense 
s  of  the  utmost  im- 
should  be  absolutely 
Id  be  in  full  harmony 
Other  nations  have 
me  of  which  are  ex- 
2S  considered  and  be- 
1  throw  upon  the  his- 
it  is  recorded  on  the 


THE  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.     213 

sacred  page.  We  have  valuable  historical  writings 
on  the  monoliths,  temples,  and  pyramids  of  Egypt, 
on  the  cuneiform  inscriptions  of  Assyria,  and  also 
those  found  in  many  forms  in  ancient  Greek  and 
Phoenician  ruins.  Probably  we  can  trace  the  his- 
tory of  Egypt  to  a  period  at  least  four  thousand 
years  before  Christ.  It  was  near  the  close  of  the 
fifth  century  before  Christ  that  Herodotus,  gener- 
ally known  as  the  "father  of  history,"  was  born, 
and  his  works  take  high  rank  among  the  great  his- 
tories of  the  world.  It  is  generally  supposed  that 
it  was  his  intention  to  write  a  universal  history. 
If  such  was  his  design,  he  was  never  able  to  real- 
ize it,  as  his  history  is  but  a  partial  record  of  the 
wars  between  Greece  and  the  barbarians,  with  in- 
cidental geographical  and  historical  references  to 
other  peoples.  There  is  a  general  agreement 
among  historical  scholars  that  Thucydides  is  the 
second  great  historian,  although  he  differs  in  aims, 
methods,  and  results  from  Herodotus.  He,  to  a 
remarkable  degree,  illustrated  a  philosophic  ten- 
dency, in  his  study  of  history ;  he  somewhat  antic- 
ipated the  methods  which  obtained  general  rec- 
ognition, as  we  have  already  observed,  about  the 
time  of  the  Reformation.  He  strove  to  explain 
the  actions  which  he  records,  not  being  satisfied 
with  the  mere  narrative  itself.  Polybius  was  an 
accurate  and  sympathetic  student  of  Thucydides, 
and  he  enlarged  and  improved  upon  the  works  of 
his  master.     But  as  a  rule  the  historians  both  of 


214 


TIIF.  OLD  BOOK. 


Greece  and  Rome  confined  themselves  at  that  time 
to  narrative,  to  mere  annals.     This  was  the  method 
of  Xenophon  with  his  "  Anabasis,"  of  Caesar  in  his 
"  Commentaries,"  and  even  of  the  more  scientific 
Livy  in  his  more  extended  history.     Tacitus  pos- 
sessed, to  a  greater  degree  than  those  we  have 
named  the  philosophic  spirit  in  his  great  history, 
and  as  a  result  he  portrayed  tyranny  in  dark  colors 
and  strove   to  discover  the  connection  between 
causes  and  effects.     Eusebius  was  the  first  sacred 
historian  to  deserve  mention.     Sir  Walter  Ral- 
eigh gave  us  fascinating  chronicles  of  fresh  discov- 
eries     But  the  philosophic  conception  of  history 
is,  as  we  have  seen,  of  late  date  and  was  of  slow 
growth.     A  great  advance  was  necessarily  taken 
when  printing  was  introduced,  even  as  earlier  there 
was  marked  advance  when  the  use  of  writing  was 
discovered.     We  would  be  sorry  to  lose  the  chron- 
icles, as  we  would  be  to  omit  the  names  of  the 
imaginative  writers  in  mediaeval  periods,  who  re- 
vived the  historic  element  which  long  had  lain 
dormant,  although  they  had  no  true  conception  of 
the  historic  relation  of  events.     It  was  long  ago 
said,  probably  by  Dionysius  of  Halicarnassus,  and 
quoted  by  Bolingbroke,  that  "history  is  philos- 
ophy teaching  by  example."      This  principle  in 
history  is  illustrated  in  the  works  of  Macaulay, 
Prescott,  Motley,  and  Froude,  who  have  displayed 
the  romantic  side  of  history,  making  its  record 
glowing  and  fascinating,  while  for  the  most  part 


-  i4,el«i«i.M«#«>'lk't^U0W 


THE  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    215 


elves  at  that  time 
is  was  the  method 
,,"  of  Caesar  in  his 
he  more  scientific 
ry.  Tacitus  pos- 
in  those  we  have 
his  great  history, 
mny  in  dark  colors 
mnection  between 
■as  the  first  sacred 

Sir  Walter  Ral- 
les  of  fresh  discov- 
iception  of  history 
e  and  was  of  slow 
,  necessarily  taken 
ven  as  earlier  there 
use  of  writing  was 
^  to  lose  the  chron- 

the  names  of  the 

al  periods,  who  re- 

\ich  long  had  lain 

)  true  conception  of 

It  was  long  ago 

Halicarnassus,  and 
"history  is  philos- 
This  principle  in 
works  of  Macaulay, 
who  have  displayed 
,  making  its  record 
e  for  the  most  part 


they  remain  within  the  limits  of  historic  veracity. 
We  all  must  recognize  the  fact  that  history  is  to  a 
great  degree  the  combination  of  human  peculiar- 
ities, so  that  the  biographical  character  will  al- 
ways be  an  important  element  in  the  work  of  the 
true  historian. 

Truthful  History. 

These  principles  have  illustration  in  the  history 
recorded  in  the  Bible.  With  all  the  discoveries 
of  modern  times  it  has  not  been  shown  that  Bibli- 
cal history  is  in  any  essential  particulars  untrust- 
worthy. So  far  as  we  have  had  opportunity  of 
testing  the  truthfulness  of  sacred  history,  it  stands 
the  test  to  a  remarkable  degree.  The  accumulated 
store  of  knowledge  concerning  past  ages,  as  found 
in  the  Bible,  is  indorsed  by  modern  discovery, 
showing  the  great  harmony  between  sacred  and 
profane  history.  The  monuments  and  hiero- 
glyphics of  Egypt,  as  well  as  the  writings  of  such 
historians  as  Herodotus,  Xenophon,  and  Josephus, 
establish  not  only  the  general  agreement  but  the 
minute  harmony  between  the  inspired  writers  and 
the  heathen  historians.  Differences  arise  regard- 
ing chronological  statements,  but  many  of  these 
differences  can  be  explained  on  the  ground  of  the 
carelessness  of  copyists  and  the  ease  with  which 
blunders  may  be  made  in  the  giving  of  figures  and 
in  making  statistical  records  of  any  kind.  Pro- 
fessor Rawlinson  says,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  William 


-■  uneJsl*li.i***«iM^AC^'='; 


ai6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Walters,  "  In  four  instances  thus,  of  Egypt,  As- 
syria, Babylon,  and  Persia,  our  knowledge  of  the 
condition   of   the   people   at   the   time  indicated, 
being  exact  and  copious  if  not  complete,  the  com- 
parison may  be  made  in  extcnso ;  and  it  is  espe- 
cially in  these  four  instances  that  the  harmony 
between  the  sacred  and  the  profane  is  most  strik- 
ing."    Voltaire  and  others  of  his  school  objected 
to  the  Bible  because  it  gave  so  much  space  to  the 
history  of  the  Jewish  people.     This  is  an  utterly 
frivolous  objection.     The  book  was   intended  to 
give  prominence  to  this  chosen  race.     It  gave  the 
history  of  other  nations  chiefly  in  their  relation  to 
this  people,  and    it  subordinated  every  element, 
historical,  linguistic,  and  philosophical,  to  the  one 
grand  design  of  unfolding  the  purpose  of  God  in 
human  redemption.     The  Jewish  people  were  un- 
der the  tuition  of  God,  and  so  had  a  great  part  to 
play  in  disseminating  His  truth  and  in  illustrating 
His  divine  purpose.     No  one  can  read  the  records 
of  the  Old  Testament  without  being  profoundly 
impressed  with  their  lifelike  character.     One  sees 
at  once  in  reading  the  story  of  the  Exodus  that  the 
writer  was  familiar  with  the  territory  which  he 
describes;    its  geography  was  mapped  out  before 
his  eye  while  he  recorded  the  narrative.     It  would 
seem  as  if  parts  of  the  record  were  a  daily  journal. 
It  is  difficult  to  name  any  history  possessing  the 
quality  that  comes  from  the  writing  of  an  eye-wit- 
ness to  a  greater  degree  than  some  portions  of  the 


LIS,  of  Egypt,  As. 
knowlodge  of  the 
e  time  indicated, 
omplete,  the  com- 
;  and  it  is  espc- 
that  the  harmony 
fane  is  most  strik- 
is  school  objected 
much  space  to  the 
This  is  an  utterly 

was  intended  to 
race.  It  gave  the 
in  their  relation  to 
;d  every  element, 
ophical,  to  the  one 
purpose  of  God  in 
ih  people  were  un- 
ad  a  great  part  to 
and  in  illustrating 
in  read  the  records 

being  profoundly 
laracter.  One  sees 
he  Exodus  that  the 
territory  which  he 
mapped  out  before 
arrative.  It  would 
ere  a  daily  journal, 
tory  possessing  the 
iting  of  an  eye-wit- 
)me  portions  of  the 


THE  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    217 

history  found  in  the  Pentateuch.     There  is  an  air 
uf  naturalness,  of  contemporaneous.iess,  of  veri- 
similitude of  which  every  intelligent  reader  must 
be  conscious  as  he  studies  these  ancient  records. 
They  are  very  far  removed  from  the  coldness  and 
the  formality  characteristic  of    many  historians. 
They  combine  the  essentials  of  the  best  examples 
even  of  modern  historic  methods.      We  have  sta- 
tistical facts  embellished  by  the  charms  of  good 
writing;  we  have  accurate  personal  knowledge  ex- 
pressed in  truthful  forms  of  speech  ;  and  pervading 
the  whole  narrative  there  is  a  degree  of  personal 
conviction  and  of    consciousness  of    the    divine 
presence  which  give  warmth,  vitality,  personality, 
and  divinity  to  the  whole  narrative.     God  is  seen 
to  be  the  great  Mover  of  all  the  events  of  which 
His  people  are  a  part.     He  vitalizes,  energizes, 
and  spiritualizes  all  the  story  by  the  manifestation 
of  His  august  presence  and  His  divine  glory. 

Difficulties  in  Other  Histories. 

Valuable  contributions  are  now  being  made  to 
the  history  of  British  India ;  and,  without  doubt, 
before  many  years  shall  pass  the  old  stories  of 
the  heinous  crimes  which  were  alleged  against 
Clive  and  Hastings  will  be  thoroughly  disproved, 
or  at  least  greatly  modified.  Sir  Alfred  Lyall, 
a  high  authority  on  all  Indian  matters,  declares 
that  "the  hardihood  and  endurance  of  the  men 
who  won  for  England  an  empire  were  equalled 


2l8  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

only  by  the   general   justice  and  patience  with 
which  they  fashioned  and  administered  it."     Un- 
fortunately  thousands   of    excellent    people   will 
still   feel   what  they  believe   to  be  a  righteous 
wrath  because  of  the  supposed  atrocious  acts  of 
Clive  and  Hastings.     Three  features  of  those  acts 
are  always  prominent  when  this  part  of  Anglo- 
Indian  history  is  under  discussion:    the  judicial 
murder  of   Nandkumar,  the  extermination  of  the 
Rohillas,  and  the  plunder  of   the  Begums.     The 
suspicion  never  reaches  the  average  reader  of  In- 
dian history  that  these  horrors  never  occurred.     It 
has  been  well  said  that  disparagement  of  their  own 
countrymen  is  a  common  failing  of  unwise  Eng- 
lishmen.    A  similar  remark  is  fully  illustrated  in 
American  history,  even  at  this  hour,  by  those  who 
denounce  the  President  of  the  United  States  and 
his  advisers.     Burke  calls  such  persons  "birds  of 
evil  presage,  who  have  at  all  times  greeted  our 
ears  with  melancholy  song."     Such  critics  find  in 
the  supposed  crimes  of  the  founders  of  the  Indian 
Empire  unending  sources  of  denunciation,  invec- 
tive, and  obloquy.     Unfortunately  this  false  his- 
tory is  taught  in  schools  and  colleges  throughout 
the  English-speaking  world;  and  still  more  unfor- 
tunately, it  is  taught  to  and  believed  by  the  edu- 
cated natives  of  India  to  be  literally  true.     These 
natives  thus  grow  up  with  bitterness  of  feeing  tow- . 
ard  their  English  rulers,  and  with  a  constant  ten- 
dency to  rebel  against  their  authority.     Sir  James 


fr^aintoivtf^'**'*****''^'^' 


nd  patience  with 
istereJ  it."  Un- 
llent  people  will 
)  be  a  righteous 

atrocious  acts  of 
tures  of  those  acts 
is  part  of  Anglo- 
iion:    the  judicial 
ermination  of  the 
he  Begums.     The 
rage  reader  of  In- 
lever  occurred.     It 
ement  of  their  own 
ng  of  unwise  Eng- 
fuUy  illustrated  in 
hour,  by  those  who 
United  States  and 
I  persons  "  birds  of 

times  greeted  our 
Such  critics  find  in 
nders  of  the  Indian 
ienunciation,  invec- 
itely  this  false  his- 
coUeges  throughout 
nd  still  more  unfor- 
jelieved  by  the  edu- 
terally  true.     These 
;rness  of  feeing  tow- . 
with  a  constant  ten- 
ithority.     Sir  James 


THE  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.     219 

Stevens  and  Sir  Henry  Maine  have  given  careful 
and  dispassionate  criticism  to  this  period  of  his- 
tory.    The  chief  criminal  in  all  this  mutter  was 
James  Mill,  the  father  of  John  Stuart  Mill.     Sir 
John  Strachey,  in  his  "  India,"  affirms  that  Mill's 
history  was  saturated  with  party  politics,  but  be- 
cause of  its  "excessive  dryness  and  severity  of 
style  "  it  produced  upon  many  the  impression  that 
it  was  entirely  accurate.     Sir  John   Strachey  did 
not  rest  his  affirmations  on  the  conclusions  reached 
by  Stevens  and  Maine,  but  by  careful  examination 
of  original  documents  he  qualified  himself  to  form 
and    express   an    independent    judgment    on   the 
whole  subject.     Several  years  of  his  Indian  ser- 
vice were  passed  in  the  province  of  Rohilkhand. 
V/hen  he  first  went  to  that  province,  men  were 
still  living  who  remembered  hearing  in  childhood 
a  story  of  the  great  Rohilla  chief,  of  his  defeat  by 
the  British,  and  of  his  death.     He  tells  us  that  he 
went  to  that  province  without  a  doubt  as  to  the 
truth  of  the  terrible  story  told  by  Mill,  by  Burke, 
and  by  Lord  Macaulay  in   his  famous  essay  on 
Warren  Hastings.     He  soon  found,  to  his  utter 
surprise,  after  mingling  with  the  people  and  meet- 
ing a  Rohilla  prince,  that  the  atrocities  which  to 
this  day  fill  Britain  with  shame  had  never  been 
heard  by  the  children  and  grandchildren  of  the 
men  whose  race  was  supposed  to  have  been  well- 
nigh  exterminated.     He  later  examined  original 
authorities  on  the  Rohilla  war,  and  his  indignation 


-.T^-*-«i>*f.*  JtMii.'*  rttAi»fP**'l*'**»^ 


220 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


was  great  when  he  found  that  James  Mill  had  been 
guilty  of  garbling  documents  and  teaching  utter 
falsehood  by  the  suppression  of  truth.  He  discov- 
ered that  the  English  army  was  not  hired  out  by 
Hastings  for  the  destruction  of  the  Rohillas;  that 
the  Rohillas  whom  Burke  describes  as  "  belonging 
to  the  bravest  and  most  honorable  and  generous 
nation  on  earth,"  were  not  a  nation  at  all,  but  a 
small  body  of  cruel  and  rapacious  Afghan  adven- 
turers who  had  imposed  their  unwelcome  and  false 
war  on  the  unwilling  Hindu  population,  and  that 
the  entire  story  of  their  destruction  by  Hastings 
was  false  from  beginning  to  end.  Unfortunately 
Macaulay  accepted  Mill  as  a  reliable  authority.  It 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  there  is  scarcely 
one  statement  of  fact  in  Macaulay's  essay  which 
was  net  taken  from  Mill's  history,  except  those 
statements  which  were  taken  from  the  equally  un- 
reliable speeches  of  Burke.  But  no  such  discov- 
ery of  inaccuracy  has  been  fcund  regarding  the 
Bible  history;  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  no  such 
inaccuracy  will  ever  be  fou;.id  regarding  that 
history. 

The  Personality  of  Moses. 

This  matter  is  worthy  of  brief  mention  at  this 
point.  The  criticism  which  arose  some  years 
ago  regarding  the  personality  of  Homer  has  in 
these  latter  days  arisen  regarding  the  personality 
of  Moses.      Heyne,  Wolfe,  and  Niebuhr  indulge 


-  •^ti-t^iiamitiaisxuniime^ti^^^ 


les  Mill  had  been 
d  teaching  utter 
uth.  He  discov- 
not  hired  out  by 
he  Rohillas;  that 
es  as  "  belonging 
ble  and  generous 
tion  at  all,  but  a 
IS  Afghan  adven- 
velcome  and  false 
lulation,  and  that 
tion  by  Hastings 
Unfortunately 
ble  authority.  It 
here  is  scarcely 
lay's  essay  which 
ory,  except  those 
n  the  equally  un- 
t  no  such  discov- 
id  regarding  the 
say  that  no  such 
regarding    that 

Moses. 

mention  at  this 

rose    some  years 

if  Homer  has   in 

g  the  personality 

Niebuhr  indulge 


THE  ANCIENT  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    221 

themselves  in  several  varieties  of  historical  scep- 
ticism regarding  Homer.     They  reduced  Homer 
as  well  as  Cadmus  and  Hercules  to  mere  "  sym- 
bols."    Some  made  the  word  Homer  refer  to  an 
ideal    patron   of    an   association   of   poets,  "Ho- 
meroi;"    others   made   the  word  mean   hostage; 
others  gave  it  the  meaning  of  "  one  who  connects 
or  combines,"  and  still  others  made  it  mean  "  one 
who  does  not  see."     Before  the  days  of  Wolfe  there 
were  those  who  denied  the  existence  of  Homer  on 
the  ground  that  no  one  could  remember  and  recite, 
in  the  absence  of  writing,  poems  of  so  great  length. 
But  we  know  that  in  the  early  days  in  Scotland, 
bards  could  recite  legends  and  poems  by  the  hour, 
and  evening  after  evening.     Just  when  the  state- 
ment was  made  as  to  the  impossibility  of  remem- 
bering poems  of  so  great  length  as  those  of  Homer, 
an  English  student  arose  who  recited  the  Iliad 
verbatim  et  literatim  ct  punctuatim ;  and  a  simi- 
lar achievement  has  recently  occurred  in  the  reci- 
tation of  Dante's  "  Divine  Comedy."     It  is  now 
found  that  there  were  written  documents  probably 
in  the  days  of  Homer.     It  is  simply  begging  the 
question  to  say  that  no  poet  could  compose  and 
retain  in  memory  verses  of  so  great  a  length.     It 
has  been  jokingly  said  that  Homer's  poems  were 
not  written  by  Homer,  but  by  another  man  of  the 
same  name.     Doubtless  the  Pentateuch  is,  with- 
out intending  any  pun  upon  the  word,  a  mosaic. 
Moses  as  a  sensible  man  certainly  availed  himself 


iii^f^mi.AiiimigmSmmHi^l'^ 


22 J  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

of  all  accessible  documents.     His  work  will  stand 
when  all  his  critics  are  utterly  forgotten. 

We  need  not  hesitate  to  affirm  that  whatever 
discoveries  may  be  made  in  history,  theology,  or 
archaeology,  in  all  the  years  to  come,  there  shall 
be  no  discovery  which  shall  seriously  reflect  upon 
the  historical  accuracy  of  this  glorious  old  library 
which  we  call  the  Bible.     The  fact  is  that  wit- 
nesses   are    rising   from  the  Libyan  sands,  from 
long-closed  tombs,  and  from  the  records  in  stone 
and  bronze,  all  testifying  to  tlie  uuth  of  this  an- 
cient narrative.     This  history  is  not  only  the  old- 
est, but  it  is  also  the  most  faithful  of  all  the  histo- 
ries that  have  ever  been  written      The  hand  of 
God  is  distinctly  visible  upon  every  page.    Within 
the  last  generation  Layard,  Botta,  and  Smith  have 
been  exploring  the  mounds  of  Nineveh,  and  have 
made   marvellous  discoveries    affirmatory  of    the 
BiDle  narrative.      '"'ey  have  found  sculptured  me- 
morials containing  Assyrian  accounts  of  events 
recorded  in  the  books  of  Kings  and  Chronicles; 
they  have  found  even  the  names  Jehu,  Hezekiah, 
and   Omri ;   they  have  found   Sennacherib's  own 
account  of  his  invasion  of  Palestine.     It  is  thus 
as  surprising  as  it  is  gratifying  that  after  this  long 
period  tablets  come  forth  from  the  grave  of  centu- 
ries to  be  the  irrefutable  witnesses  to  the  truth  of 
this  old  story  written  by  God  through  the  hands 
of  men      God  will  take  care  of  His  word.      Crit- 
ics come  and  critics  go ;  but,  as  He  Himself  has 
declared,  His  word  shall  stand  forever. 


-,i*^TV<y:jS"5r*^^^*v>I 


s^^^i,^^,s*^^*mmii-'*»^-s^i>^<'''^^^^'i^^^- 


i  work  will  stand 
rgotten. 

■m  that  whatever 
tory,  theology,  or 
come,  there  shall 
:)usly  reflect  upon 
orious  old  library 
fact  is  that  wit- 
byan  sands,  from 
J  records  in  stone 
uuth  of  this  an- 
not  only  the  old- 
ul  of  all  the  histo- 
jn      The  hand  of 
;ry  page.    Within 
a,  and  Smith  have 
Jineveh,  and  have 
ififirmatory  of    the 
ind  sculptured  me- 
ccounts  of  events 
s  and  Chronicles; 
;s  Jehu,  Hezekiah, 
Sennacherib's  own 
sstine.     It  is  thus 
that  after  this  long 
the  grave  of  s:;entu- 
ses  to  the  truth  of 
through  the  hands 
t  His  word.      Crit- 
s  He  Himself  has 
forever. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HONESTY   OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


:4it",i-WtfA«V.'.^MtiW  f>di»A«'^i»-^ 


.iJ 


XIII. 

HlOGHArillCAL    HONKSrv    OV  TIIK.   Bini-E. 

The  Hiblc  dares  tell  the  truth  about  its  hemes 
and  heroines.  In  this  regard  it  is  widely  differen- 
tiated from  every  other  biography.  It  does  not 
hesitate  to  admit  the  sin  committed  by  Abra- 
ham, by  Lot,  and  by  Isaac.  It  calls  Lot  a  right- 
eous man,  and  yet  it  frankly  records  his  acts  of 
unworthincss,  humiliction,  and  open  wickedness. 
These  wrongs  are  nowhere  concealed ;  on  the  con- 
trary, they  are  called  by  their  true  names.  David 
is  the  man  after  God's  own  heart,  and  yet  David's 
heinous  sin  is  fully  recorded.  Solomon  acknowl- 
edges his  guilt;  and  there  is  not  one  line  he  ever 
wrote  which  excuses  one  wrong  which  he  ever 
committed. 


Most  Difficult  Writing. 

Biography,  and  especially  autobigraphy,  is  the 
most  difficult  of  all  kinds  of  literature.  It  seems 
to  be  almost  impossible  for  the  ordinary  biogra- 
pher to  tell  the  truth  regarding  the  subject  whose 
history  he  is  writing.  Uninspired  biographers 
deny  or  minify  the  vices  of  their  subjects,  and 
they  create  or  magnify  their  virtues.  Few  men 
15 


J 


ji  1 


p  i 


ifr 


1*tiS8t 


pjur'MT^'^^SKWZ'- 


2  26  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

are  fitted  even  to  undertake  this  difficult  kind  of 
literature.     We  know  that  even  in  our  own  day  it 
is  rare  to  find  a  man  with  the  self-poise,  the  varied 
information,  the  absolute  honesty,  and  the  unflinch- 
ing courage  necessary  to  write  a  complete  and  ac- 
curate biography.     Trevelyan's  "  Life  of  Macau- 
lay  "  takes  very  high  rank  as  a  biography  in  all 
the  best  qualities  of  this  difficult  form  of  litera- 
ture.    It  is  easy  to  count  on  the  fingers  of  one's 
two  hands  the  biographies  of  any  one  generation 
which  come  up  to  the  highest  literary  standards. 
The  recent   biography  of   Tennyson  by  his  son 
Hallam,  and  a  fcv/  others  of  recent  times,  come 
into  the  category  of  good  literature  of  this  charac- 
ter; but  the  rarity  of  discriminating  biographies 
gives  special  prominence  to  the  volumes  which 
have  attained  high  rank,  and  also  enables  us  to 
judge  more  justly  of  this  style  of  literature  as 
found  in  the  Bible,     The  Bible  abounds  in  bio- 
graphical sketches,  and  this  fact  is  a  marked  ele- 
ment of  the  Bible's  moral  power.     It  enables  us 
!o  see  the  influence  of  true  religion  in  the  devel- 
opment of  noble  character,  and  also  to  observe  the 
vicious  effects  in  individual  lives  of  the  dominion 
of  evil.     Biography  is  a  sort  of  mirror  in  which 
the  whole  world  may  see  the  evil  and  the  good  in 
human  character.     It  is  to  human  life  what  the 
quiet  lake  is  to  the  mountains,  rocks,  and  trees 
standing  upon  its  shore ;  we  know  that  these  are 
all  faithfully  reflected  in  its  placid  waters.     No 


f 


is  difficult  kind  of 
:n  in  our  own  day  it 
;elf-poise,  the  varied 
ty,  and  the  unflinch- 

a  complete  and  ac- 
's  "  Life  of  Macau- 
i  a  biography  in  all 
icult  form  of  litera- 

the  fingers  of  one's 

any  one  generation 
t  literary  standards. 
;nnyson  by  his   son 

recent  times,  come 
ature  of  this  charac- 
linating  biographies 

the  volumes  which 
,  also  enables  us  to 
tyle  of  literature  as 
ble  abounds  in  bio- 
act  is  a  marked  ele- 
)vver.  It  enables  us 
;ligion  in  the  devel- 
d  also  to  observe  the 
ives  of  the  dominion 

of  mirror  in  which 
evil  and  the  good  in 
human  life  what  the 
ins,  rocks,  and  trees 
:  know  that  these  are 
;  placid  waters.     No 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HONESTY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    227 

kind  of  writing  is  more  instructive,  as   none  is 
more  difficult  of  attainment.     In  attempting  this 
kind  of  writing  many  able  men  utterly  fail.     Some 
men  have  written  in  malice,  some  in  ignorance. 
Some  men  have  written  with  fulsome  eulogy,  and 
some  with  detestable  detraction.     Great  portions 
of  biographical  history  need  to  be  rewritten.     It 
is  quite  certain,  as  already  suggested,  that  great 
injustice  has  been  done  even  to  Clive  and  Hast- 
ings in  relation  to  the  establishment  of  the  Brit- 
ish Government  in  India.     The  time,  doubtless, 
is  soon  coming  when  all  that  period  of  Anglo- 
Indian  history  will  be  rewritten,  and  when  the 
judgments  that  have  been  passed  upon  the  found- 
ers of  the  British  Empire  in  India  will  be  in  many 
respects  modified,  and  in  some  respects  entirely 
reversed.     There  is  reason  to  believe  that  political 
malice  largely  governed  the  statements  of  James 
Mill,  which  by  their  calmness,  coolness,  and  clear- 
ness have  been  taken  as  the  sober  statements  of 
historic  truth. 

We  thus  see  how  difficult  it  is  to  write  accurate 
history,  and  especially  biographical  narratives. 
We  are,  therefore,  the  more  ready  to  admire  the 
charmful  and  truthful  biography  which  we  con- 
stantly find  in  the  Word  of  God.  The  writers  of 
Scripture  show  at  every  point  a  commendable 
fidelity  to  absolute  truth.  They  "nothing  exten- 
uate, nor  set  down  aught  in  malice."  Infirmities 
as  well  as  excellencies  they  record.     There  is  no 


i. 


I  i 


ii'.i: 

'It' 

I* 


J'M 


y 


til 


i^' 


^  vrn!(.'.ii^tfe'^»»''''^***'"5"'^'>=  ■ 


'       ''1     1 
.     it 


228 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


attempt  on  their  part  to  blacken  or  to  'vhiten  their 
subjects      They  neither  besmear  them  with  pitch 
nor  cover  them  with  whitewash.     The  evil  in  the 
good  man  is  not  denied,  and  the  good  in  the  evil 
man  is  frankly  acknowledged.     Uninspired  biog- 
raphers, as  already  remarked,  find  it  almost  impos- 
sible to  come  up  to  this  high  standard  of  writing. 
If  some  men  could  come  back  to  life  to  hear  their 
own  funeral  eulogies,  read  their  obituaries,  and 
peruse  their  biographies,  they  would  be  amazed  to 
learn  how  immaculately  good  their  lives  were.     In- 
deed, they  would  not  recognize  themselves  as  the 
subjects  of  these  narratives.     If  some  men  could 
read   the  inscriptions  on  their  tombstones,  they 
would  be  absolutely  certain  that  they  were  in  the 
wrong  graves,  and  that  the  tombstones  must  have 
been  intended  to  record  the  virtues  of  men  whose 
lives  were  quite  other  than  their  own. 

When  we  turn  to  the  Bible  we  have  no  such 
embarrassment  on  either  side.     Here  there  is  no 
palliation  of  vices;  here  there  is  no  exaggeration 
of  virtues;  here  no  untruthful  panegyrics  are  re- 
corded, even  when  praise  is  merited  and  bestowed ; 
and  here  no  malevolent  denunciations  are  found, 
even  when  disapproval  must   necessarily  be  de- 
clared.   The  candor  of  the  sacred  writers  is  worthy 
of  all  praise.     Moses  is  spoken  of  as  one  of  the 
most  patient  of  men,  and  yet  the  impatience  of 
Moses  is  recorded.     He  must  have  shown  a  repre- 
hensible impatience  when  he  struck  the  rock  at 


;  ii 


y  \ 


or  to  'vhiten  their 
r  them  with  pitch 

The  evil  in  the 
;  good  in  the  evil 
Uninspired  biog- 
d  it  almost  impos- 
andard  of  writing. 
3  life  to  hear  their 
nr  obituaries,  and 
ould  be  amazed  to 
;ir  lives  were.     In- 
:  themselves  as  the 
If  some  men  could 
:  tombstones,  they 
it  they  were  in  the 
nbstones  must  have 
rtues  of  men  whose 
ir  own. 

e  we  have  no  such 
Here  there  is  no 
is  no  exaggeration 
I  panegyrics  are  re- 
irited  and  bestowed ; 
mciations  are  found, 

necessarily  be  de- 
red  writers  is  worthy 
:en  of  as  one  of  the 
t  the  impatience  of 
have  shown  a  repre- 
;  struck  the  rock  at 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IIOXESTY  OF  THE  BIBLE.    229 

Meribah.  Who  makes  the  record  of  that  impa- 
tience.' The  answer  is,  Moses  himself.  David 
confesses  his  fearful  wanderings  with  no  attempt 
at  extenuation.  The  fifty-first  psalm  is  an  out- 
burst of  grief  and  penitence  which  must  touch 
every  heart  even  to  this  hour.  Almost  every  sen- 
tence in  that  psalm  is  a  moan,  every  word  a  sob, 
and  every  syllable  a  tear.  That  psalm  must  ever 
appear  in  the  Psalter  as  one  of  the  humblest  of 
penitential  confessions.  Nothing  approaching  it 
in  this  regard  can  be  found  in  any  other  literature. 
Its  manifestation  of  repentance  is  profound  and 
unfeigned.  The  Psalmist  makes  confession  of 
sinful  deeds  springing  from  a  sinful  nature  and 
manifesting  themselves  in  unpardonable  conduct. 
Nowhere  else  can  a  confession  be  found  so  tender, 
so  contrite,  and  so  fervent.  With  the  confession 
there  is  also  a  humble,  filial  trust  in  the  forgiving 
love  of  God.  The  thirty-second  psalm  probably 
was  written  by  David  after  he  wrote  the  fifty-first. 
We  know  that  Augustine  used  often  to  read,  with 
weeping  heart  j.nd  eyes,  shortly  before  his  death, 
the  seven  penitential  psalms,  of  which  the  thirty- 
second  is  one.  He  placed  them  on  the  wall  over 
against  his  sick-bed,  that  he  might  constantly 
make  their  truths  his  own  experience.  The  fifty- 
first  psalm  was  David's  great  confession  of  sin  and 
earnest  prayer  for  forgiveness ;  and  the  thirty-sec- 
ond psalm  is  the  record  of  the  confession  he  had 
made  and  the  forgiveness  he  had  received.     It  ex- 


!-,l 


11 


1% 


I-.    1, 


^afiuitite;,' .  ,^»  -  A. 


$i^ 


».\' 


23° 


THE  OLD  nOOK. 


presses  his  consciousness  of  restoration  to  his  Fa- 
ther's house  and  heart.     It  is  an  outbui  st  of  his 
gladness  when  God's  forgiveness  had  been  received 
into  his  sinful,  sorrowful,  but  penitent  soul.     His 
sin  had  been  great,  but  it  was  not  after  all  the  hard- 
ened act  of  a  selfish  sensualist.    When  the  prophet 
came,  David  turned  with  genuine  sorrow  to  God, 
praying  for  forgi\eness.     From  its  uneasy  slumber 
his  really  sensitive  conscience  was  aroused,  and  it 
could  find  no  rest  until  full  forgiveness  was  re- 
ceived.   In  the  presence  of  these  two  great  psalms 
we  can  readily  understand  how  David  was  "  the 
man  aftcr's  God's  own  heart."     Carlyle,  with  a 
superb  scorn,  denounces  those  who  speak  of  David 
only  as  a  great  sinner  and  not  also  as  a  great  re- 
penter,  who  hold  him  before  the  world  as  deeply 
peccant  and  not  as  also  genuinely  repentant.     In 
this  respect  Carlyle  has  spoken  a  great  truth ;  he 
has  uttered  a  needed  rebuke,  and  has  emphasized 
a  commendable  criticism.     The  Bible  reveals  God 
as  holy,  just,  and  good.     It  also  represents  Him  as 
delighting  in  mercy.     It  sets  His  character  before 
us  as  the  ideal  of  our  attainment;  for  we  are  ex- 
horted to  be  holy  even  as  He  is  holy.      It  offers 
rewr;rds  to  the  obedicit,  and  utters  threatenings 
against  the  disobedient.    It  places  before  us  every 
dissuasion  from  sin,  and  every  incentive  to  holi- 
ness.    It  deals  with  great  principles  of  heart  and 
motives  of  life.      It  does  not  lay  down  numerous 
petty  rules,  but  great  general  laws,  and  then  gives 


H,"ii-| 

:      t 

i! 


n 


ration  to  his  Fa- 
outbuist  of  his 
ad  been  received 
litent  soul.     His 
ifter  all  the  hard- 
^hen  the  prophet 
e  sorrow  to  God, 
:s  uneasy  slumber 
s  aroused,  and  it 
givcness  was  re- 
two  great  psalms 
David  was  "the 
Carlyle,  with  a 
lo  speak  of  David 
ilso  as  a  great  re- 
e  world  as  deeply 
:ly  repentant.     In 
a  great  truth ;  he 
d  has  emphasized 
Bible  reveals  God 
represents  Him  as 
is  character  before 
it;  for  we  are  ex- 
is  holy.      It  offers 
itters  threatenings 
:es  before  us  every 
incentive  to  holi- 
ciples  of  heart  and 
ay  down  numerous 
iws,  and  then  gives 


BIOGRAPHICAL  IfOXESrV  OF  THE  BIBLE.    23 1 

us  the  spirit  to  understand  and  the  desire  to  apply 
these  laws  in  our  daily  lives.  David  frankly  con- 
fesses his  sin,  devoutly  offers  his  prayer  for  for- 
giveness, and  greatly  rejoices  in  the  conscious 
possession  of  God's  mercy. 

Honesty  in  the  Narrative. 

Who  narrates  the  account  of  Jonah's  fleeing  to 
Tarshish  in  disobedience  to  the  command  of  God .' 
None  other  than  Jonah  himself  writes  this  humil- 
iating narrative.  His  conduct  was  childish,  petu- 
lant, and  disobedient  in  the  extreme.  He  seems 
to  have  been,  at  times  at  least,  painfully  morose, 
pitifully  peevish,  and  perhaps  helplessly  melan- 
cholic. It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  occasionally 
he  was  scarcely  responsible  for  his  conduct.  He 
was  possessed  of  a  hypochondriacal  temperament, 
being  easily  discouraged  and  easily  elated.  He 
was  timid  or  courageous,  according  as  one  mood 
or  the  opposite  was  dominant.  He  was  under  the 
influence  of  the  heathenism  of  his  time,  and  yet 
was  a  patriotic  lover  of  his  people  and  an  earnest 
hater  of  all  the  oppressors  of  his  nation.  He  re- 
cords with  the  utmost  frankness  not  only  his  one 
great  act  of  disobedience  to  God,  but  also  his  con- 
dition of  childish  disappointment  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  rapid-growing  gourd.  With  absolute 
fidelity  he  paints  his  own  unattractive  portrait. 
His  story  is,  however,  one  of  fascinating  interest. 
Apart  from  the  miraculous  clement  which  has 


'i 


'!  ! 


h: 


.Jlils! 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 

subiected  it  to  the  criticism  of  the  exegetes  and  has 
W  ^e  to  question  its  historicity,  it  is  s,n,ply  as 
alt^y  one  of  the  most  charming  short  stones  of 
any  liLature.     The  man  who  will  s,t  down  to 
Zd  it  as  he  might  read  any  other  book  apart  a  ■ 
together  from  the  thought  of  its  msp.ratwn  or  ,ts 
uWmate  purpose,  cannot  fail  to  be  delighted  w,th 
"he  novelty  of  the  narrative,  the  frankness  of  the 
«,  and  the  archaic  charm  of  the  mcdent 

'me^'we  turn  to  the  New  Testament,  we  dis 
cover   similar  frankness.     Mark   ,s   supposed   to 
ha^  been  the  amanuensis  of  the  apostle  Peter.    It 
IsTt  least  believed  that  he  wrote  under  th,s  apos- 
e"  direction.     It  is  therefore  the  -ore  no^,c. 
able  that  Mark  gives  so  full  an  a^""'  "«/""  ^ 
cowardly  and  blasphemous  denial  of  h,s  dmne 
Lorf  and  Master.     In  these  narratives  we  have 
*e  great  heart  of  the  impulsive  but  noMe  d.saple 
*  c^g  itself  with  absolute  honesty,  without  effort 
at  vindication  or  justification  of  any    ort.     The 
«,rtrait  of  Peter  is  here  painted  to  the  life.     Had 
Te  not  been  governed  by  absolute  honesty,  he 
migW  have  entirely  concealed  or  at  least  greatly 
Id^fied  many  of  the  most  ''"-King  «=-<-- °' 
Ts  unmanly  and  unholy  conduct  toward  h-s  Lord 
We  cannot' but  admire   the  absolute  hones  y 
the  Bible  in  its  biographical  narrations.     There  is 
he«  a  lesson  for  us  all.    We  are  not  to  ,udge  men 
;"their  worst,  nor  yet  by  their  best  elements  of 


"T^ 


xegetps  and  has 
,  it  is  simply  as 
short  stories  of 
11  sit  down  to 
•  book,  apart  al- 
nspiration  or  its 
2  delighted  with 
rankness  of  the 
of  the  incident 

stament,  we  dis- 
is    supposed    to 
ipostle  Peter.    It 
under  this  apos- 
the  more  notice- 
iccount  of  Peter's 
ial  of   his  divine 
irratives  we  have 
but  noble  disciple 
sty,  without  effort 
)f  any  sort.     The 
to  the  life.     Had 
olute  honesty,  he 
or  at  least  greatly 
iiaging  features  of 
t  toward  h's  Lord, 
bsolute  honesty  of 
rrations.     There  is 
■e  not  to  judge  men 
ir  best  elements  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HONESTY  OF  THE  BIBLE.   233 

character;  so  judging  them,  we  shall  be  guilty  of 
misjudging.  We  should  not  judge  the  sun  by  its 
spots,  but  rather  by  its  light  and  its  heat.  We 
must  judge  men  in  their  entirety,  in  their  sphe- 
ricity, in  their  completeness  of  character  and  con- 
duct. This  rule  we  ought  to  apply  with  the  ut- 
most honesty,  fidelity,  and  constancy  to  all  our 
fellowmen;  this  rule  the  Bible  seems  to  observe 
in  all  the  biographies  which  it  contains.  We 
have  no  right  to  pass  a  harsh  judgment  upon  men 
except  we  know  all  the  influences  which  bore  upon 
their  opinions  and  action.  It  is  an  unspeakable 
comfort  for  us  to  remember  that  the  Judge  of  all 
the  earth  will  do  absolutely  right.  God  knows 
every  influence  which  has  been  brought  to  bear 
upon  men  in  the  way  of  incitement  or  restraint. 
Many  a  man,  because  of  his  environment,  has  out- 
wardly, at  least,  refrained  from  sin,  while  many 
another  man,  because  of  the  absence  of  that  re- 
straining environment,  has  been  involved  in  guilt. 
The  natural  impulse  of  the  former  may  have  been 
less  noble  than  the  natural  tendency  of  the  latter. 
The  difference  in  conduct  was  due  quite  as  much 
to  difference  in  circumstances  as  to  difference  in 
character.  Here  as  everywhere  we  may  fall  back 
with  unspeakable  comfort  upon  the  omniscience  of 
God,  as  directed  by  His  unerring  justice  and  His 
infinite  love. 


jj^^-S£g»«^jfe^gffi!«s^o.ve»»w»**i»»«'<-.i™««ji'At*-,sji^^ 


JHii 
If  ii  ■ 


234 


THE  OLD  BOOK'. 


Variety  in  Bible  Biography. 
There  is  in  the  Bible  a  great  variety  in  these 
biographies,  as  we  have  observed  varieties  in  so 
many  other  respects.     We  have  here  representa- 
tives of  nearly  all  classes  and  conditions  of  men. 
On  the  pages  of  the  Bible  varied  and  often  opposing 
classes  meet.     Kings  and  warriors,  shepherds  and 
agriculturists,  poets  and   priests  here   give  their 
manifold  charms  to  this  ancient  narrative.      Occa- 
sionally we  have  but  faint  outlines  of  portraits, 
and  at  other  times  full-sized  pictures,  with  every 
outline    boldly    sketched.     Often   we   wish   that 
some  of  the  biographies  were  fuller  than  divine 
wisdom  has  chosen  to  give  them  in  the  inspired 
narrative.    The  great  life  is  evermore  that  of  Him 
who  spake  and  lived  as  never  did  any  other  being. 
His  is  the  matchless  biography.  His  is  the  peer- 
less character,  and  He  is  the  perfect  man      It  is 
worth  much  to  the  world  that  we  have  a  fourfold 
biography  of  Him  who  was  the  Son  of  God  and 
the  Son  of  Mary,  the  Ancient  of  Days  and  the  Child 
of  the  Manger.     These  narratives  are  artless,  sim- 
ple, and  sublime.     Jesus  Christ  was  the  God-man^ 
His  life  is  unique,  even  as  was  Hi«  birth.     Such 
a  birth  would  suggest  such  a  life.     He  who  came 
into  the  world  as  never  did  any  other  man  would 
be  expected  to  live  in  the  world  as  no  other  man 
ever  lived.     It  would  be  well-nigh  unthinkable  if 
a  life  so  begun  had  not  been  so  continued ;  and 


WW 


)GRAPHY. 

t  variety  in  these 
;d  varieties  in  so 

here  representa- 
onditions  of  men. 
ind  often  opposing 
ors,  shepherds  and 
s  here   give  their 

narrative.     Occa- 
tlines  of  portraits, 
ictures,  with  every 
;en   we    wish    that 
fuller  than  divine 
lem  in  the  inspired 
:rniore  that  of  Him 
lid  any  other  being, 
y,  His  is  the  peer- 
perfect  man.     It  is 

we  have  a  fourfold 
le  Son  of  God  and 
:  Days  and  the  Child 
ves  are  artless,  sim- 
;t  was  the  God-man. 
s  Hi"  birth.     Such 
life.     He  who  came 
iny  other  man  would 
arid  as  no  other  man 
-nigh  unthinkable  if 
in  so  continued ;  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL  HONESTY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  235 

what  might  have  been  expected  was  actually  real- 
ized. In  writing  this  biography  the  evangelists 
had  no  model.  The  life  they  record  stands  alone 
on  the  pages  of  universal  history.  We  see  in  it 
at  every  point  the  union  of  the  human  and  the 
divine.  How  could  uninspired  men  write  cor- 
rectly such  an  inspired  life  ?  Now  one  element 
of  that  life  is  especially  conspicuous,  and  now  an- 
other element  is  presented  to  our  view.  We  see 
Christ  as  a  familiar  guest  at  the  wedding  in  Cana 
of  Galilee ;  and  then  we  see  Him  putting  forth  His 
power  as  the  creative  Word.  Finely  did  Crashaw 
long  ago  sing, 

"  The  conscious  water  saw  its  God  and  blushed." 

We  see  this  same  Saviour  weak  and  weary  as  any 
traveller  at  Jacob's  well;  but  soon  we  behold  Him 
speaking  words  of  heavenly  wisdom  and  revealing 
Himself  to  the  woman  of  Samaria  as  the  Christ  of 
God.  At  the  grave  of  Lazarus  He  pours  out  His 
sympathetic  tears;  and  in  the  midst  of  weeping 
friends  He  utters  His  majestic  voice  as  the  Resur- 
rection and  the  Life.  We  see  Him  weary  in  the 
boat.  His  head  upon  the  wooden  pillow,  while  the 
spray  dashes  in  His  face  and  bedews  His  hair; 
then  we  see  Him  rising  in  His  majesty  and  hush- 
ing the  storm  into  perfect  calm  by  His  omnipotent 
word.  If  a  divine  life  had  not  been  lived  before 
these  evangelists,  and  which  they  truthfully  de- 
scribe, then  they  themselves  must  have  been  di- 


1  1 


ni 


■I  -i 


,,^Si«ilS&^-*^  ttv->4  5^.  j»««;fe«<«**»«^*S>*t)iWii&«^i^il»ac*4^^ 


•1  ^»*t*yta«»%i*^M.'£.i^.-*^f^ 


336 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


vine      It  is  less  a  tax  on  our  credulity  to  believe 
tiat  Christ  lived  as  the  evangelists  have  descnbed 

;:ltlea,vUaUzcd,a„a  spiritualized  .0  go  onus 

way  girdling  the  world  with  Wessmg^ 
Who  gave  its  writers  their  un.que  skill? 

..  Whenc.  b..  Iron,  h.av.n  could  m.n.  u.sWM  '«  •«•• 
In  Mveral  ages  born,  in  »«"'  P""' 

U„sk'd  Ibei,  pains.  ung,..ri«;  to  .d™.. 

su"b,gu,«,g.i»,  „d»a«y«io»*"'P"»l 


.^-.■.  ,«^***'ii*S 


dulity  to  believe 
ts  have  described 
to  suppose  th;\t 
a  life  had  it  not 
They  who  charge 
ten  this  narrative 
rtually  affirm  that 
the  Christ  of  God. 
k1  believed,  life  is 
phy  is  to  some  de- 
wherever  the  in- 
the  divine  truths 
nguage  into  which 
I  has  been  greatly 
1,  and  even  immor- 
circulating  through 
r.  speech  with  some- 
as  the  German  Ian- 
life   from  Luther's 
uis  English  has  been 
dualized  to  go  on  its 
lessing. 
inique  skill  ? 

an,  unskilled  in  arts, 
arts, 

how  or  why 
ith  a  lie  ? 
heir  advice, 
iom  their  price! " 


ll 


THE    MATCHLESS   POETRY    OF   THE 
BIBLE. 


m 


ki*<^J«S-i»*.'t««.'**«''*^   *«»<•.-' 


iM 


t  f 


XIV. 

'I'liK  Matchless  Poetrv  of  the  Him.E. 

The  most  enthusiastic  and  partial  student  of 
classical  poetry  is  obliged  to  confess  that  there  is 
no  poetry  in  any  literature  equal  to  that  found  in 
the  liible.  We  havt  the  testimony  of  men  who 
were  themselves  great  poets,  who  do  not  hesitate 
for  a  moment  to  give  the  poetry  of  the  l?ible  a 
unique  place  in  the  rhythmical  literature  of  the 
world.  Sir  William  Jones,  a  critic  of  no  mean 
authority,  says :  "  I  am  of  opinion  that  the  Hible 
contains  more  true  sensibility,  more  exquisite 
beauty,  more  pure  morality,  more  impartial  his- 
tory, and  finer  strains  of  poetry  and  eloquence  than 
can  be  collected  from  all  other  books,  in  whatever 
age  or  language  they  may  be  written."  It  is  the 
testimony  of  John  Milton,  the  immortal  bard  who 
came  into  the  immediate  presence  of  God  as  never 
did  any  other  uninspired  poet,  that  "  there  arc  no 
songs  comparable  to  the  songs  of  Zion,  no  orations 
equal  to  those  of  the  prophets,  and  no  politics  like 
those  which  the  Scriptures  teach. " 


'if.'! 

:||F        ■■ 


J;.  I'll ' 


I  ill!? 


„  — .-^fw^^«^«!»«.M£*sra».«: 


nm 


24° 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


What  Is  Poetry? 
It  is  not  easy  to  give  a  satisfactory  answer  to 
this  question.     Most  of  our  writers  who  have  un- 
dertaken a  definition  of   poetry  have  recognized 
th     difficulty  of   the  task.     Aristotle   says  that 
"poetry  is  imitation" ;  Thomas  Fuller,  "poetry  . 
Isl  Tn  words"  ;  Dr.  Johnson,  "the  art  of  pleas- 
Tng"  and  Thomas  Carlyle  calls  it  «  mpassioned 
truth"     It  has  also  been  defined  as 'the  beauty 
rideas.  distinct  from  the  beauty  of  things    ;  an 
another  writer  declares  that  poetry  ^^^^^'^X 
all  that  is  beautiful,  burning  to  passion    att ir«l 
in  imagery,  and  speaking  in  music,       It  is    _•  r 
tain  that  poetry  is  that  form  of  literature  which 
rbodies  beautiful  thought  feeling  or   action  u. 
rhythmical  and  melodious  language     it  is  one  o 
Z  noblest  of  arts,  addressing  vtsel    to  the  finer 
feelings  and  imagination  by  means  of  musical  and 
roving  words.     Macaulay   defines   poetry  to  be 
^h    art  of  employing  words  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  produce  an  illusion  on  the  ^"^-S^^^^^^^"; ^f  , ' 
of  Ling  by  means  of  wo^^w^^^^^^^^^^^ 
by  means  of  colors.       Bailey,  m 
declares  that— 

••  Poetry  is  itself  a  thing  of  God  ; 

He  made  His  prophets  poets  :  and  the  more 
We  feel  of  poesie.  do  we  become  _, 

Like  God,  in  love  and  power-under-makers. 

Coleridgetellsus  that  "poetry  is  not  the  proper 


PA-. 


TRY? 


itisfactory  answer  to 
riters  who  have  un- 
try  have  recognized 

Aristotle  says  that 
,as  Fuller,  "  poetry  is 
)n,  "  the  art  of  pleas- 
:alls  it  "  impassioned 
;fined  as  "  the  beauty 
auty  of  things  "  ;  and 

poetry  is  "love  for 
ig  to  passion,  attired 
1  music/'  It  is  c'-r- 
tn  of  literature  which 
,  feeling,  or  action  in 
anguage ;  it  is  one  of 
ing  itself  to  the  finer 

means  of  musical  and 

defines  poetry  to  be 
Is  in  such  a  manner  as 
he  imagination,  the  art 
i  what  the  painter  does 
iley,  in  his  "Festus," 

of  God; 
poets:  and  the  more 

ve  become 

power— under-makers." 

oetry  is  not  the  proper 


THE  MA  TCHLESS  POE  TR  Y  OF  THE  BIBLE.     241 

antithesis  to  prose,  but  to  science ;  poetry  is  op- 
posed to  science,  and  prose  to  metre. "  E.  C. 
Stedman,  in  his  "  Nature  of  Poetry,"  affirms  that 
"poetry  is  rhythmical  imaginative  language  ex- 
pressing the  invention,  taste,  thought,  passion,  and 
insight  of  the  human  soul."  It  would  be  easy  to 
give  many  other  definitions  of  poetry  equally  as 
interesting  and  descriptive  as  those  already  given; 
but  we  need  not  multiply  words  in  mere  definition. 
We  know  that  according  to  the  etymology  of  the 
word  it  signifies  a  creation  or  production  of  some 
sort.  The  Greeks  employ  its  classical  equivalent 
to  designate  the  artistic  productions  of  the  imagi- 
nation expressed  in  language.  We  know  well  that 
poetry  is  not  necessarily  associated  with  verse  or 
rhyme.  It  often  finds  superb  expression  in  prose. 
The  book  of  Ruth  is  eminently  poetic  in  sub- 
stance, although  in  form  it  is  prose.  Many  parts 
of  the  book  of  Job  and  of  the  prophetical  writings 
are  also  distinctively  poetical.  It  would  be  easy 
to  name  writers  of  recent  and  comparatively 
recent  times,  such  ai'>  Jeremy  Taylor,  Hooker, 
Burke,  Ruskin,  Hawthorne,  and  Emerson,  many 
of  whose  works,  though  in  the  form  of  prose,  arc 
richly  imaginative  and  are  truly  poetical.  In  gen- 
eral, however,  poetry  tends  to  express  itself  in 
certain  rules  of  metre,  and  also  to  assume  rhyth- 
mical language.  The  music  of  the  metre  height- 
ens the  emotions  and  tends  by  mysterious  but  uni- 
versal laws  to  seek  expression  in  measured  forms. 
j6 


:l'\ 


'm 


i, ttf'jidsS*-^''  ■■«»sw'w.!ii»''-'-  'im.v J!v--  ■ . 


-■ii?'' 


j^,  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

,„,  ,„„er  may  be  our  definition  of   poetry,  we 
Tl    fln    ."a    it  ha.  sonte  of  its  noblest  iUustra- 
i^n    in  the  Word  of  God.    There,  if  ever,  we  may 
have  e-™Pl«  °'  Shakespeare's  thought  when  he 
tells  us  that — 

T„:.f.he.  .0  sh.p...  ."<!  Eh»  to  airy  .o.l"»S 
A  local  habitation  and  a  name. 

We  know  that  there  are  various  k-ds  of^^^^^^^^^^^ 
such  as  the  epic,  the  lyric,  the  pastoral,  the  da 
matic  the  elegiac,  ar^d  still  other  forms.     Stnk- 
Tng  examples  of  these  various  types  of  poetry  - 
found  in  the  Bible.     The  examples  of  pastoral 
po'ry   here  fotmd  are  worthy  of  our  careM  con 
Tde ration.     This  is  that  form  of  poetry  which  de- 
r     Ites  the  scenery,  sentiment,  and  experience  of 

otve  rhythmical  expression  to  humanJho"gh 

assumed  the  form  of  pastoral  poetry.     Shepherds 

;rsented  a  large  proportion  of  the  population  m 

pHmitive  times,  and  their  pastoral  songs  and  me- 

^  u     nH,ra11v  take  their  form  from  their 

tres  would  naturally  take  m 

daily  pursuits  and  environments.     As  a  distinc 


on  of  poetry,  we 
,ts  noblest  illustra- 
;rc,  if  ever,  we  may 
s  thought  when  he 


ng. 

[rom  earth  to  heaven, 

poet's  pen 
3  airy  nothing 


ious  kinds  of  poetry, 
de  pastoral,  the  dra- 
ither  forms.     Strik- 
,  types  of  poetry  are 
xamples  of  pastoral 
y  of  our  careful  con- 
n  of  poetry  which  de- 
nt, and  experience  of 
very  earliest  attempts 
)n  to  human  thought 
.1  poetry.     Shepherds 
,n  of  the  population  in 
astoral  songs  and  me- 
;heir  form  from  their 
nents.     As  a  distinct 
al  poetry  was  not  cul- 
y  late  day;  but  it  must 
w  patriarchs,  prophets, 
f  the  most  noticeable 


THE  MA  ^"^HLESS  POE  TR  V  OF  THE  BIBLE.     243 

examples  of  this  style  of  poetic  composition  to 
be  found  in  any  language.  The  story  of  Ruth 
is  idyllic  in  beauty,  often  'pastoral  in  form,  and 
charming  in  spirit,  and  the  twenty-third  psalm  is 
as  peerless  in  its  pastoral  charm  as  it  is  tender  in 
its  religious  associations.  We  have,  as  classical 
pastorals,  the  idylls  of  Theocritus  as  among  the 
oldest  specimens  of  this  character.  These  ap- 
peared nearly  three  hundred  years  before  Christ. 
Th^y  came  long  after  Greece  had  given  the  world 
her  masterpieces  in  epic  poetry,  as  well  as  immor- 
tal productions  in  lyric  poetry,  tragedy,  comedy, 
philosophy,  and  rhetoric.  Among  the  Latins,  the 
refined  and  courtly  Virgil,  in  his  Eclogues,  follow- 
ing the  model  of  Greek  predecessors,  has  given 
^autlful  and  melodious  examples  of  this  style  of 
.  ;■  production.  During  the  Middle  Ages  pas- 
^1  poetry  was  largely  unknown ;  with  the  revival 
of  the  classic  spirit,  however,  the  pastoral  soon  re- 
appears. England  and  Scotland  have  given  us  fine 
examples  of  this  simple  and  charming  element  in 
poetic  composition.  But  nowhere  shall  we  find  this 
style  of  poetry  of  a  noble*  character  and  of  more 
enduring  fame  than  we  find  it  in  the  Word  of  God. 
Some  psalms  of  David  sing  themselves  in  the  soul 
with  the  song  of  the  bird,  the  odor  of  the  flower, 
and  the  fragrance  of  the  field  as  their  inseparable 
accompaniments.  So  long  as  cultivated  minds  en- 
joy pastoral  poetry,  so  long  will  these  sweet  songs 
of  Israel's  immortal  singer  have  their  place  on  the 


ii'  \ 


1(1 


/  I 
V 


j^tt»«ifflaSW»lS«»i«''!*:a*Vffi!*»i»SiSS«««Wi^l-«'Si^ 


344 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


page  of  the  Bible  and  in  the  memory  of  all  its  de- 
voted students.  . 
Not  otherwise  is  it  with  lyric  poetry.      Ihis  is 
a  name  given  to  songs  which  originally  were  ac- 
companied by  the  music  of  the  lyre.    This  species 
of  poetry  is  closely  related  with  the  thoughts,  sen- 
timents, and  emotions  of  the  composer's  own  mind 
and  heart      It  is  subjective,  in  opposition  to  epic 
poetry,  which  necessarily  is  chiefly  objective.     It 
therefore  comes  to  be  marked  by  shorter  produc- 
tions than  epics,  whose  historic  sweep  necessarily 
lengthens  the  poem  itself.    Lyric  poems  are  songs 
of  war,  of  home,  and  of  love;  they  are  the  songs, 
to  a  remarkable  degree,  of  the  heart.     And  as  a 
result  they  have  a  great  place  in  the  thought  o 
simple  as  well  as  cultured  minds  in  all  ages  and 
in  all   parts  of  the  world.     In  this  poetry  the 
Bible  abounds  and  excels.     Here  we  see  the  heart 
abandoning  itself,  under  the  sway  of  lofty  emotion 
and  divine  inspiration,  to  its  fullest  and  noblest 
expression.     We  see  the  poet  clothing  his  own 
feelings  and  the  feelings  of  others  in  glowing  lan- 
guage, as  the  feelings  express  themselves  in  lofty 
emotion.     In  the  Bible  we  hear  the  very  music  of 
Hebrew  life,  home,  and  love.     We  have  lyrics  ex- 
pressing gratitude  in  public  worship,  and  sweet- 
ness  and  tenderness  in  domestic  affection.     We 
have  lyrics  commemorating  heroic  victories,  cele- 
brating   Jewish  marriages,  and   embodying  pro- 
foundest  grief.     As  we  read  these  stirring  lyrics 


THE  MA  TCHLESS  FOE  TR  Y  OF  THE  BIBLE.     245 


;mory  of  all  its  de- 

ic  poetry.  This  is 
originally  were  ac- 
lyre.  This  species 
I  the  thoughts,  sen- 
imposer's  own  mind 
ri  opposition  to  epic 
liefly  objective.     It 

by  shorter  produc- 
c  sweep  necessarily 
n'\z  poems  are  songs 

they  are  the  songs, 
le  heart.  And  as  a 
e  in  the  thought  of 
inds  in  all  ages  and 

In  this  poetry  the 
[ere  we  see  the  heart 
way  of  lofty  emotion 
i  fullest  and  noblest 
et  clothing  his  own 
thers  in  glowing  lan- 
is  themselves  in  lofty 
ear  the  very  music  of 
We  have  lyrics  ex- 
;  worship,  and  sweet- 
lestic  affection.     We 
heroic  victories,  cele- 
and   embodying  pro- 
i  these  stirring  lyrics 


we  seem  to  hear  the  ancient  Hebrew  lyre  as  its 
music  echoes  from  harvest  fields,  Jewish  homes, 
and  loathsome  prisons,  as  well  as  from  the  hill- 
sides of  the  land  and  the  temple  of  God. 

We  also  have  in  the  Bible  some  of  the  very  best 
examples  of  elegiac  poetry.  In  David's  lament 
over  the  death  of  Saul  and  Jonathan  we  have  a 
blending  of  human  sorrow  and  poetic  beauty  such 
as  can  scarcely  be  surpassed  or  even  equalled  by 
any  other  literature  in  the  world.  This  lamenta- 
tion is  a  picture  of  distress  as  tender  as  it  is  strik- 
ing. Here  a  great  soul  pours  itself  out  in  images 
of  manly  love  and  in  language  of  genuine  poetic 
fervor.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  read  the  noble 
words  without  finding  every  word  "swollen  with  a 
sigh  or  broken  with  a  sob."  This  sublime  lamen- 
tation deserves  to  have  a  conspicuous  place  on  the 
page  of  literature  wherever  tender  sentiment,  heroic 
courage,  and  poetic  beauty  are  admired. 

We  have  not  in  the  Bible  any  example  of  epic 
poetry.  Perhaps  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  this 
species  of  poetry  should  find  place  on  the  page  of 
revelation.  It  refers,  as  has  already  been  hinted, 
chiefly  to  outward  objects  for  its  subject.  It  finds 
its  best  embodiment  in  such  works  as  the  "  Iliad  " 
and  "Odyssey"  of  Homer,  the  "^Eneid"  of  Vir- 
gil, the  "  Jerusalem  Delivered  "  of  Tasso,  Milton's 
"  Paradise  Lost,"  and  Dante's  "  Divine  Comedy. " 
Neither  do  we  find  in  the  Bible  the  drama  in 
its  fulness.      It  ought  to  be  affirmed,  however, 


1:'  ■'■ 


til 


Hi!;i;t 


,skmm>mfa*»~ 


•^B^rrr^iKJl'^  E^j^r.^-Kera-**  ■• 


ill' 


24^ 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


th.t  in  the  Old  Testament  there  are  numerous 
n  tance    of  dramatic  dialogue,  as  in  the  book  o 

Tnb  and  L  of  lyric  poems,  placed  in  dramatic 
Job,  anU  also  oi    >       i  ^^^^ 

connections,  in  Solomon  s  Song.      ^ 

.     ,ue   strictly   technical   sense   we  do   not  tmci 
in  the   stncuy  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

in  Hebrew  literature.     It  is  to  urc 

«  m.ist  look  for  the  invention  of  the  drama  in 
we  must  look  ^"'^  ^  ^^^^^^  genius. 

its  perfection  of  P-^^  f  ^^^.^^  ,,  fi,d  either 
We  do  not  --^-^l^l^^J^  The  most  recent 
a  Euripides  or  a  Sha^-^^^^^^^   ^^^,   satisfactorily 

t'^'ulat  tLsong  of  SoJmon  contains  many 

;rn'l^^icfeLres.      Solomon  ^^  ^hfs 
1  «,nmrch      He  has  carried   off   to  nis 

ael     The  poem  doses  with  .he  .numph  o   P^re 
and  loyal  love  in  the  happy  union  of  these  peasan 
T    „.      All  through  the  history  of  the  Churcn 
lovers.     AH  '^"'"S  ,,;,  beautiful  song 

commentators  ^a     'o"f  '^^  ,,  „,  earthly  or 
was  a  song  of  love ,  but  wn  perplexed 

spiritual  love  was  a  question  that  S^^'V /^^P 
Kblical  critics.     Many  of  the  interpretations  are 


^_  »,  '.•*«»)  !rf-(W*^'*««^"'-*' 


:re  are  numerous 
as  in  the  book  of 
)laced  in  dramatic 
But  the  drama 
;   we  do   not  find 
Greece  alone  that 
1  of  the  drama  in 
ind  human  genius, 
tble  to  find   either 
The  most  recent 

and  satisfactorily 
non  contains  many 
lolomon  is  a  type  of 

carried   off   to  his 
tiden.     In  the  poem 
ies  of  his  court,  who 
nit  to  the  life  which 
he  king,  however,  is 
en's  fervent  attach- 
rhom  she  has  left  be- 
5overeign  though  he 
ire  from  pressing  his 
nself  thwarted  in  his 
b  the  triumph  of  pure 
inion  of  these  peasant 
istory  of  the  Church 
at  this  beautiful  song 
ither  it  was  earthly  or 
that  greatly  perplexed 
he  interpretations  are 


THE  MA  TCHLESS  POE  TR  Y  OF  THE  BIBLE.     347 

allegorical,  the  Church  and  Christ  appearing  as  the 
chief  subjects  in  the  poem ;  Christ  being  the  be- 
loved bridegroom,  and  the  believing  and  loving 
soul  being  the  Church,  the  bride.  Whatever  in- 
terpretation may  be  given,  the  presence  of  the 
dramatic  element  in  this  Song  of  Songs  must  be 
recognized,  and  it  is  recognized  in  the  later  inter- 
pretations, which  give  the  poem  a  clear  setting 
and  make  its  movement  strong  in  thought,  clear 
in  action,  and  inspired  in  its  result. 

The  Hebrew  Bard. 

The  Hebrew  bard  chose  lofty  subjects  as  the 
elements  of  his  inspired  song.     In  its  source,  its 
theme,  and  its  method,  the  poetry  of  the  Bible  sur- 
passes all  other  poetic  literature.     It  throbs  with 
human  interest,  it  abounds  in  charming  references 
to  domestic  life,  it  glows  with  human  hopes,  at 
times  it  weeps  with  human  sorrow,  and  it  carries 
us  back  to  the  primitive  habits  of  an  ancient  peo- 
ple.    It  is  equally  adapted  to  funeral  obsequies 
and  to  marriage  festivities.     There  is  no  condi- 
tion in  life  to  which  it  does  not  properly  belong. 
Well  has  Sir  Daniel  Sanford,  a  man  of  broad  cul- 
ture and  ability  as  marked  as  it  was  varied,  said 
that   "In  lyric  flow  and  fire,   in  crushing  force, 
in  majesty  that  seems  still   to  echo  the  awful 
sounds  once  heard  beneath  the  thunder-clouds  of 
Mount  Sinai,  the  poetry  of  the  ancient  Scriptures 
is  the  most  superb  that  ever  burned  within  the 


i% 


'iS:', 


9a6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


breast  of  man."     Every  reader  of  the  book  of  Job 
_and  certainly  every  reader  who  has  sat  down 
and  read  it  through  without  interruption-wiU  fed 
the  full  force  of  the  words  of  Thomas  Carlyle  that 
burly  Scotchman  whose  own  prose  often  glows 
with   poetic   beauty,  while   it   is   roborant  in  its 
rugged  strength,  that  apart  from  all  theories  about 
the  book,  it  is  one  of  the  grandest  things  ever 
wHtten  with  pen;  and  then  he  adds :  "Subhmesor. 
row.  sublime  reconciliation,  oldest  choral  melody 
as  of  the  heart  of  mankind,  soft  and  great  as  the 
summer  midnight,  as  the  world  with  its  seas  and 
stars!    There  is  nothing  written.  I  think,  in  the 
Bible  or  out  of  it.  of  equal  literary  merit        No 
man  can  read  the  thirty-eighth  chapter  of  the  b^^^^^^ 
of  Job.  containing  the  account  of  God  s  challenge 
to  Job  to  answer,  and  God's  enumeration  of  His 
niighty  works,  with     t  feeling  the  full  force  of 
Cadyle-s  strong  wc     s.     ^he  book  o    Job  a^on 
is  enough  to  give  .   :  B^^le  a  high  place  among 
the  noblest  literatures  of  the  world     The  man 
who  does  not  feel  the  rhetorical  grandeur,  the  dra- 
matic charm,  and  the  lofty  religious  motive  of  this 
book  is  lacking  in  many  of  the  noblest  elements 
of  manhood.     Emerson  has  told  us  that     A  man 
is  a  whole  encyclopedia  of  facts.     The  creation  of 
a  thousand  forests  is  in  one  acorn,  and  Egypt, 
Greece,  Rome.  Gaul.  Britain.  America  he  folded 
al  eady  i"  the  first  man."     One  might  almost  say 
with  equal  truth  that  all  literatures,  all  dramas. 


^^.l^^KX'r:'^"'^'-?'^'*''''!'''^^^'*^^**^'' 


of  the  book  of  Job 
who  has  sat  down 
;rruption — will  feel 
homas  Carlyle,  that 

prose  often  glows 

is   roborant  in  its 
m  all  theories  about 
-andest  things  ever 
ulds  :  "  Sublime  sor 
Idest  choral  melody 
oft  and  great  as  the 
,d  with  its  seas  and 
tten,  I  think,  in  the 
iterary  merit."     No 
ti  chapter  of  the  book 
It  of  God's  challenge 
enumeration  of  His 
ng  the  full  force  of 
e  book  of  Job  alone 

a  high  place  among 
he  world.  The  man 
cal  grandeur,  the  dra- 
digious  motive  of  this 
the  noblest  elements 

told  us  that  "  A  man 
icts.  The  creation  of 
ne  acorn,  and  Egypt, 
1,  America  lie  folded 
One  might  almost  say 
iteratures,  all  dramas, 


T//E  MA  TCHLESS  POE  TR  Y  OF  THE  BIBLE.     249 

histories,  lyrics,  sermons,  orations  lie  folded  in 
this  one  book  which  we  call  the  Bible.     All  the 
great  literatures  of  the  future  are  in  the  diction- 
aries of  to-day  and  to-morrow.     All  that  is  needed 
is  the  presence  of  some  tuneful  soul  who  shall 
wed  word  to  word.     Then  we  shall  have  stately 
epics,  powerful  tragedies,  resistless  dramas,  tearful 
elegies,  and  glowing  lyrics.     Then  we  shall  have 
poem  on  poem,  powerful  sermons,  eloquent  ora- 
tions, and  masterful  histories.    They  are  all  in 
the  dictionary  of  to-day  and  to-morrow.     In  like 
manner  the  Bible  is  the  fountain,  the  source,  the 
inspiration  of  literature,  of  painting,  of  sculpture, 
of  music,  and  of  all  the  noblest  productions  of  the 
greatest  souls  standing  with  uncovered  head  and 
uplifted  heart  in  the  immediate  presence  of  the 

Almighty. 

It  was  thus  that  the  Hebrew  bards  stood  and 
sang.     They  saw   God   in   sunshine  and  storm. 
They  heard  His  voice  in  the  rolling  thunder  and 
witnessed  His  power  in  the  flashing  lightning.    In 
all  the  events  of  history  they  saw  the  tokens  of 
His  presence.     They  heard  the  echo  of  His  foot- 
falls sounding  through  the  corridors  of  their  past 
history.     Their  poetry  then  was  in  the  largest  and 
truest  sense  as  original  as  it  was  powerful  and 
divine.     They  had  no  teachers;  they  belonged  to 
no  schools  of  poetry;  they  had  no  masters  whom 
they  might  imitate.     The  student  of  uninspired 
poetry  discovers  the  influence,  even  in  Browning 


■:  .1 


!l 


V     \ 
'k    1 


'm 


111'^ 


J 


as© 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


and  Tennyson,  of  great  masters  of  former  genera- 
tons.     When  he  enlarges  the  boundaries  of  his 
inquiries,  and  studies  these  great  masters  them- 
selves, he  finds  in  the  poems  the  influence  of  their 
masters  of  a  still  earlier  period.     And  thus  he 
might  go  back  and  back  to  the  earlier  bards  of  the 
most  primitive  peoples.     But  in  the  themes,  the 
method,  and  the  spirit  of  Bible  poetry  there  are 
no  echoes  of  earlier  singers ;  but  these  Bible  songs 
have  resounded  thft)ugh  all  the  ages  in  the  echoes 
of  the  noblest  human  poets  of  every  century  and 
country.     In  all  these  respects  the  poetry  of  the 
Bible  is  unique. 

It  is  not  too  much  to  say,  even  in  the  close  of 
the  nineteenth  century,  that  the  most  popular  poet 
in  all  the  world  is  "  Israel's  sweet  singer."     This 
statement  at  first  thought  seems  to  be  a  great  ex- 
aggeration, but  a  little  reflection  will  show  that  it 
is  absolutely  true,  even  when  taken  in  the  most 
literal  sense.     The  Bible  is  still  the  most  popu- 
lar book  in  all  the  most  highly  civilized  nations. 
Judged  simply  by  the  number  of  copies  manufac- 
tured and  sold,  it  is  far  in  advance  of  all  com- 
petitors for  popularity.     Well  has  Disraeli,  in  his 
"Tancred,"  expressed  this  thought.     This  most 
eloquent  Israelite  has  not  gone  beyond  the  bounds 
of  truth  when  he  declares  that  "as  an  exponent  of 
the  mysteries  of  the  human  heart,  as  the  soother 
of  the  troubled  spirit,  to  whose  harp  do  the  people 
of  England  fly  for  sympathy  and  solace  ?     Is  it  to 


X. 


m  .ji^ '  *i«^>».T<i»'i^ 


— _-*i-e*!^-'*<  ?«T-V*--^a^.-.i 


,,,;^.gr*fft*«Ei*lflydSKW 


•m^-^- 


af  former  genera- 
joundaries  of  his 
at  masters  them- 
influence  of  their 
d.     And  thus  he 
arlier  bards  of  the 
1  the  themes,  the 
;  poetry  there  are 
these  Bible  songs 
ages  in  the  echoes 
every  century  and 
the  poetry  of  the 

en  in  the  close  of 
most  popular  poet 
eet  singer."     This 
IS  to  be  a  great  ex- 
[i  will  show  that  it 
taken  in  the  most 
ill  the  most  popu- 
Y  civilized  nations, 
af  copies  manufac- 
ivance  of  all  com- 
has  Disraeli,  in  his 
ought.     This  most 
beyond  the  bounds 
"  as  an  exponent  of 
eart,  as  the  soother 
harp  do  the  people 
tid  solace  ?     Is  it  to 


T^£  MA  TCHLESS  POE  TR  Y  OF  THE  BIBLE,     2 5 1 

Byron  or  Wordsworth,  or  even  to  the  myriad- 
minded  Shakespeare  t  No ;  the  most  popular  poet 
in  England  is  the  'sweet  singer  of  Israel,'  and  by 
no  other  race  (except  his  own)  have  his  odes  been 
so  often  sung.  It  was  '  the  sword  of  the  Lord  and 
of  Gideon  '  that  won  for  England  its  boasted  liber- 
ties, and  the  Scotch  achieved  their  religious  free- 
dom chanting  upon  their  hillsides  the  same  canti- 
cles which  cheered  the  heart  of  Judah  amid  their 
glens." 

Let  us  read  the  histories,  and  repeat  and  love 
the  poetry  of  the  Bible.     It  is  peerless  among  the 
great  poems  and  poets  of  the  world.    We  ought  to 
bathe  our  souls  in  the  atmosphere  of  these  inspired 
songs.     We  may  once  more  hear  these  songs,  as 
they  come,  at  times  wild  as  the  storm,  and  then 
gentle  as  the  zephyr,  from  the  plains  and  forests, 
prisons,  palaces,  and  temples  of  Israel,  in  her  land 
of  song  and  story.     Let  us  master  the  poetry  of 
the  Greek  and  Latin  classics ;  let  us  make  house- 
hold words  of  the  immortal  poems  of  Chaucer,  of 
Milton,  of  Cowper,  of  Wordsworth,  of*  Browning, 
of  Tennyson,  of  Lowell,  of  Longfellow,  and  of  a 
score  more  on  both  sides  of  ti:e  sea,  both  of  the 
earlier  and  later  times,     but  ;f  every  other  poet 
must  be  forgotten,  let  us  baptize  our  souls  in  the 
poetry  of  the  bards  of  the  Bible.     This  poetry  is 
the  inspiration  of  heaven.     This  poetry  echoes  the 
words  of  the  Almighty.     It  sings  the  song  of  re- 
demption.    It  chants  the  prophecy  of  heaven ;  and 


fi 


\r,\  : 


sa^ffi^iwsssct-;,. 


as* 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


it  blends,  even  as  we  sing  it  on  earth,  with  the 
songs  of  saints  and  seraphs,  of  angels  and  ar  -h- 
angels,  whose  voices  arc  like  the  sound  of  nii'ny 
waters,  as  they  sing,  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
their  King,  the  immortal  and  celestial  song  of 
Moses  and  the  Lamb. 


■^~^-^'i.\  vai.^vk.LrWM.y*''  ■'VV(r-?,*««l*2  v.(*o«  j-.Hi*s**M-*='t'*-'^' 


-«:«{ '»Bei«i^%MVv%'  V 


;arth,  with  the 
igcls  and  af::h- 
sound  of  nii'ny 
ate  presence  of 
lestial  song  of 


THE   AGGRESSIVE   MISS^O:M   OF   THE 
BIBLE. 


i^-x=.T^iiKHi-ow9iuaa^aiKi ' 


jilii 


fe  ,iji  iSM-frii^  '■!  E^^-fwr* ' 


■„»dMK«S^^25!S'«**«Ai'^^*;^^«i'»HS' 


XV. 

The  Aggressive  Mission  of  the  Bible. 

The  Bible  is  a  potent  force  among  the  elements 
of  civilization ;  indeed,  at  times  it  has  been  the 
dominant  force  amid  the  influences  making  for 
civilization,  culture,  and  general  intelligence  and 
prosperity.  In  the  nature  of  the  case,  it  cannot 
be  merely  a  negative  influence.  There  is  an 
"  irrepressible  conflict  "  between  right  and  wrong, 
light  and  darkness,  good  and  evil.  Our  Lord  said 
that  He  came  not  to  send  peace,  but  a  sworJ. 
What  was  true  of  Him  who  was  the  incarnate 
Word  of  God  is  true,  in  a  modified  sense,  of  the 
book  which  is  the  revealed  Word  of  God.  Nothing 
is  more  certain  than  that  the  period  of  our  Lord's 
coming  in  the  flesh  was  marked  by  unusual  activ- 
ity of  all  the  forces  of  evil.  It  was  a  time  when  ir- 
regularity and  confusion  in  social  and  spiritual  life 
were  especially  conspicuous ;  a  time  when  the  ut- 
ter disharmony  between  right  and  wrong,  and  good 
and  evil,  was  manifest  with  unusual  conspicuity. 
In  a  very  real  sense  the  whole  period  was  the 
hour  and  power  of  darkness ;  and  it  was  a  dark- 
ness all  the  deeper  because  it  preceded  the  dawn  of 


i.gigi/m&^'^^^^^^h*'t^^i^f'^&a^ 


ajS  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

a  new  and  celestial  day.     The  spiritual  world  was 
at  that  time  a  chaos,  waiting  for  the  subduing 
power  of  Him  who  ultimately  will  make  it  a  cos- 
mos     As  a  result  of  the  predominance  of  spiri- 
tual evils  at  that  time,  we  find  a  greater  number 
of  cases  of  possession  by  evil  spirits  than  at  any 
previous  or  subsequent  period.     It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  all  the  powers  of  evil  have  been  par- 
tially destroyed  by  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  God 
in  the  flesh.     There  is  a  sense  in  which  Satan  has 
literally  fallen  as   lightning  from  heaven      His 
rage  and  violence,  ever  since  the  coming  of  Christ, 
have  been  much  reduced.    Missionaries  in  heathen 
lands  have  discovered  remarkable  activity  among 
the  powers  of  darkness  when  the  Gospel  of  Christ 
is  first  preached.     It  is  not  surprising,  therefore, 
that  such  ebullitions  of  evil  should  have  been  com- 
mon when  Christ  introduced  the  opposing  force 
of  civic  righteousness  and  personal  holiness.     We 
know  that  the  brighter  the  light,  the  deeper  are 
the  shadows.     Electric  lights  cast  shadows  which 
make  the  wire  appear  to  be  as  large  as  a  cable. 
When  the  light  of  God's  Word  is  flashed  upon  the 
darkness  of  human  sin,  that  darkness  appears  the 
denser,  and  every  sin  becomes  exceeding  sinful. 
The  Word  of  God  necessarily  attacked  by  its  mere 
presence,  and  especially  in  its  aggressive  and  heav- 
enly mission,  every  form  of  evil. 


''•"«its«irqMae»«8Pie3SSl*«»« 


ffSiiSi^uMtm*^ 


ttnes^MWn*'**"^'^*^*'*'''^" 


AGGRESSIVE  MISSION  OF   THE  BIBLE.     257 


tual  world  was 
the  subduing 
make  it  a  cos- 
nance  of  spiri- 
greater  number 
its  than  at  any 
is  not  too  much 
have  been  par- 
the  Son  of  God 
vhich  Satan  has 
n  heaven.     His 
aming  of  Christ, 
laries  in  heathen 
;  activity  among 
Gospel  of  Christ 
rising,  therefore, 
I  have  been  com- 
;  opposing  force 
al  holiness.     We 
t,  the  deeper  are 
it  shadows  which 
large  as  a  cable. 
\  flashed  upon  the 
:ness  appears  the 
exceeding  sinful, 
acked  by  its  mere 
gressive  and  heav- 


Opposing  Atf.kilvi. 

He  who  is  the  Prince  of  liguc  and  life  neces- 
sarily came  into  violent  contact  with  atheism  and 
infidelity  in  all  their  forms.    Atheism  is  the  deniul 
of  the  exstence  of  God.     It  is  a  gigantic  negation; 
it  is  a  prodigious  blunder ;  it  is  a  monstrous  crime. 
The  word  naturally  has  variant  shades  of  meaning, 
according  to  the  time  in  which  it  is  used  and  the 
connection  in  which  it  is  found.     In  its  etymology 
atheism  negatives  theism.     Much  which  in  current 
thought   is  supposed  to  be  mere  pantheism  and 
deism  is  at  heart  atheism.     It  has  also  a  positive 
or  dogmatic,  as  well  as  a  negative  or   sceptical 
side.      Positive  intellectual  atheism  is  compara- 
tively r?re;    but  practical  atheism  is  sadly  com- 
mon.    Indeed,  it  is  doubtful  if  there  ever  was  a 
really  intelligent,  intellectual  atheist ;  but  practi- 
cal atheism,  as  illustrated  by  religious  tenets  which 
are  held  and  by  lives  which  arc  lived  as  if  there 
were  no  God,  is  prevalent  in  great  classes  in  every 
community.     Many  men  shrink  with  genuine  hor- 
ror from  being  called  atheists  who  yet  live  with- 
out God  in  the  world.    They  are  unwilling  to  bear 
the  reproach  which  zealous  believers  of  all  ages 
invariably  attach  to  those  who  dare  deny  and  thus 
defy   God.     They   cannot,   however,   escape    the 
odium  which  must  attach  to  their  practice ;  it  re- 
veals  their   genuine   denial   of    God's    existence. 
Without  doubt  many  who  deny  that  God  is  know- 
17 


Hi 


2s8 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


able  as  the  first  Cause  of  the  universe  really  mean 
that  God  is  not  fathomable  by  their  methods  of 
inquiry.  This  view  naturally  leads  to  a  region 
of  darkness  and  despair.  Atheism  clips  the  wings 
of  poetic  genius ;  great  poets  are  seldom  atheists. 
Atheism  never  wrote  a  great  hymn;  it  cannot 
compose  immortal  music.  It  generates  an  atmos- 
phere in  which  no  wing  can  loftily  soar,  and  in 
which  no  noble  life  can  truly  breathe.  As  ex- 
pounded by  itinerant  lecturers  and  disseminated 
by  their  pamphlets,  it  contaminates  the  minds  ol 
the  thoughtful  working  classes,  and  is  an  evil  of 
vast  dimensions.  Indeed,  atheism  is  foreign  to  a 
properly  constituted  mind.  It  is  accompanied  al- 
ways by  denial,  and  denial  presupposes  an  affirma- 
tion. The  denial  of  God  implies,  in  its  very  form, 
the  existence  of  God.  Atheism  leads  to  anarch- 
ism; and  anarchism  is  responsible  for  outbreaks 
against  law  and  order  in  every  country  in  which 
it  controls  a  considerable  number  of  followers. 
Few  Americans  realize  the  number  of  anarchists 
now  in  our  country.  If  these  men  had  their  way, 
civil  marriage  would  be  abolished,  and  in  its  place 
would  be  what  they  call  autonomistic  marriage,  or 
a  simple  partnership,  binding  only  at  the  will  of 
both  parties.  The  Word  of  God  necessarily  op- 
poses this  system  of  unbelief.  The  very  first  sen- 
tence in  the  Bible  assumes  the  existence  of  God. 
Atheism  is  essentially  destructive,  vulgar,  and 
detestable.     It,  as  already  suggested,  assumes  va- 


'"/a^!a»iijt»^*5«iaMiaft«.':rf*«  -■^"■•'^^i'' 


v^?i>ifcfti*i»*^;..'©Ji.,-.' iSt^t3w*?*lw'" ' ''T^^ 


le  really  mean 
ir  methods  of 
;  to  a  region 
lips  the  wings 
Idom  atheists, 
m ;  it  cannot 
ites  an  atmos- 
r  soar,  and  in 
ithe.  As  ex- 
disseminated 
the  minds  oi 
is  an  evil  of 
s  foreign  to  a 
:companied  al- 
5es  an  affirma- 
its  very  form, 
ids  to  anarch- 
for  outbreaks 
intry  in  which 
of  followers. 
•  of  anarchists 
had  their  way, 
nd  in  its  place 
ic  marriage,  or 
at  the  will  of 
necessarily  op- 
very  first  sen- 
stence  of  God. 
!,  vulgar,  and 
d,  assumes  va- 


AGGRESSIVE  MISSION  OF    THE  Bmi.E.     259 

rious  forms,  at  different  times,  in  its  opposition  to 
revealed  religion.  The  Bible  must  oppose  it  be- 
cause it  vigorously  opposes  the  Bible. 

It  is  said  that  when  Paine  wrote  his  "  Age  of 
Reason  "  he  did  not  possess  a  Bible.      Later  he 
said  :  "  I  have  gone  up  and  down  through  the  Chris- 
tian's garden  of  Eden,  and  with  my  simple  axe  I 
have  cut  down  one  and  another  of  its  trees,  until  I 
have  hardly  left  a  single  sapling  standing. "     This 
boast  was  as  silly  as  it  was  false.     It  was  impos- 
sible for  Paine  to  uproot  the  trees  of  truth  which 
were  planted  by  the  hand  of  God.    His  works  were 
published  at  a  time  when  many  influences  com- 
bined to  give  them  popularity  and  power.      He 
possessed  some  qualities  that  were  commendable, 
and  was  himself  a  sufferer  because  of  his  views. 
Strictly  speaking,  he  was    not  an   atheist.     He 
wrote  against  Christianity  and  in  favor  of  deism. 
But  his  day  is  over,  and  the  Word  of  God  which  he 
despised  still  lives,  endowed  with  divine  life  and 
resistless  power.     Voltaire  was  a  man  of  different 
character,  but  his  influence  also  has  greatly  waned. 
It  would  be  virtually  dead  were  it  not  that  many 
of  his  ideas  have  been  taken  up  by  the  so-called 
higher  critics,  revamped  with  modern  phraseology, 
and  started  out  under  their  patronage  for  a  new 
but  certainly  brief  career.      Voltaire  lived  in  the 
atmosphere  of  such  English  deists  as  Bolingbroke, 
Collins,  Wollaston,  and  others.    He  vilified  Shakes- 
peare as  a  barbarous  mor  ,ter  of  a  writer,  declaring 


8tttM!i£ajMt.'; 


260 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


that  his  works  were  intolerable  to  any  man  pos- 
sessed of   orthodox   French  taste.     He  was  the 
most  noted  of  the  band  of  writers  whose  crusade 
against  law,  order,  and  religion  prepared  the  way 
for  the  French  Revolution.      He,  like  Paine,  was 
a  deist  rather  than  an  atheist.     Diderot  and  others 
abused    him    because   they  considered    that    his 
partial  belief  was  an  evidence  of  intellectual  m- 
firmity      He  was  a  superb  master  of  ridicule,  and 
wrote  with  the  most  attractive  graces  of  the  French 
style      But  this  man  has  passed  away,  as  must  all 
others,  of  every  rank  and  degree,  who  oppose  God 
and   His  truth.     The  Bible  has  withstood  every 
attack  of  infidelity  in  the  past,  and  it  bids  defiance 
to  every  deistic  and  atheistic  assault  in  the  future. 

Opposed  to  Polytheism. 
•     The  Bible  is  necessarily  opposed  to  polytheism 
wherever  it  is  found.     Israel  was  long  disposed  to 
the  idolatries  of  various  surrounding  nations.     Not 
until  after  the  Babylonish  captivity  did  Israel  fully 
overcome  her  idolatrous  tendencies.     That  experi- 
ence restored  her  fully  to  her  theistic  convictions 
-convictions  from  which  she  has  never  departed 
to  this  hour.     Polytheism  has  appeared  m  all  the 
nations  of  antiquity,  and  also  in  all  those  of  mod- 
ern times  who  are  without  the  inspired  revelation^ 
By  polytheism  we  understand  the  prevalence  of 
belief  in  many  gods.     Often  the  word  is  used  as 
a  personification  of  natural  forces  or  phenomena; 


■^y. 


-<^i^^^lt»!*^:  '^^ 


i»w.ilWi'»>r.?*S»«ais  >«*»^: 


ais  .«*»,_<  .,*«s4.»i»*Si»««  «*<*■!*<»««»>»  ;i'- 


)  any  man  pos- 
He  was  the 
5  whose  crusade 
epared  the  way 
like  Paine,  was 
derot  and  others 
idered    that    his 
:  intellectual  in- 
of  ridicule,  and 
;es  of  the  French 
iway,  as  must  all 
who  oppose  God 
withstood  every 
i  it  bids  defiance 
ult  in  the  future. 

[EISM. 

,ed  to  polytheism 
i  long  disposed  to 
ing  nations.     Not 
ty  did  Israel  fully 
es.     That  experi- 
leistic  convictions 
las  never  departed 
jpeared  in  all  the 
all  those  of  mod- 
nspired  revelation, 
the  prevalence  of 
le  word  is  used  as 
:es  or  phenomena ; 


AGGRESSri'E  MISSION  OF  THE  BIBLE.     261 

it  is  frequently  employed  in  this  sense  in  the  clas- 
sical mythologies.  As  far  back  as  we  can  go,  it 
is  found  that  the  rudest  nations  have  had  some 
form  of  polytheism,  including  in  that  term  their 
worship  of  spirits.  Traces  of  theism  appear  in  the 
history  of  Balaam  and  Melchisedek.  The  nations 
with  which  the  Jews  came  in  contact  not  only 
worshipped  many  gods,  but  employed  images  in 
that  worship,  with  the  single  exception  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Zoroaster.  Polytheism  is  by  no  means 
unknown  to-day  in  many  lands  and  among  many 
people  > ;  it  is  the  natural  religion  of  savage  tribes 
throughout  the  world.  Only  as  men  advance  to 
purer  conceptions  of  God  do  they  advance  in 
higher  degrees  of  civilization. 

Polytheism,  therefore,  everywhere  disappears 
before  the  march  of  true  civilization.  The  Bible 
is  in  conflict  with  polytheism  at  this  hour  in  many 
lands.  Gods  many  are  worshipped  in  India,  China, 
Japan,  and  many  of  the  islands  of  the  seas.  One 
may  see  in  Japan  the  worship  of  idols  indicative 
of  as  much  superstition  t*s  can  be  found  in  any 
part  of  the  world.  -Indeed,  the  puerilities  person- 
ally observed  among  the  Japanese  in  the  worship 
of  their  idol  gods  would  excite  laughter,  did  it 
not  merit  sincere  pity.  The  Bible  must  move 
forward  in  its  triumphant  march  until  every  idol 
deity  is  overthrown.  The  Roman  heathen  were 
willing  that  a  statue  of  Christ  should  be  erected  in 
the  Pantheon,  but  this  proposition  the  early  Chris- 


BttiWfSStWa*?'"- 


963 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


tians  Utterly  rejected.     Chris,  could  no.  share  H 
honors  wi.h  gods  which  are  no.  gods.     If   H.s 
statue  were  erected,  all  Cher  statues  must  be  de- 
Ironed      The  same  law  hold,  .rue  to-day     The 
S  demand,  that  God,  and  """--^^^^^^ 

shipped.     The  most  ^-^^^^^^'^^Zl^Z 
made  at  all  periods  in  .he  history  oi  n 
To  destroy  the  Word  of  God.     It  .,  opposed  to  the 
'„„  entrained  license,  superstitious  ceremonies     nd 
abominable  practices  of  heathenism  in  all   oun.  « 
and  centuries.     Heathenism  persecuted  the  early 
Chri    il.and  made  heroic  efforts  utterly  U,e 
stroy  the  Bible.     We  have  only  to  turn  to  the  h.s 
ory  of  Diocletian  to  see  how  terrible  «a;  1»»  "P" 
^sitionto  the  Word  of  God  and  the  Chur  h^ 
Christ.     In  the  early  part  of  hi,  reign  he  was  rea 
^onlwy  favorable  to  both    «  *e.nflue„ce  o 

^==-^'^ft'%t:teT;:^tir -::::ioM:d 

tures  and  who  thirstea  lor  tuc 
Diocletian  to  issue  his  severe  edicts  a«a.ns   them 
During  a  period  of   ten  years  the  condition  of 
uunng  a,  Y  cpvpre     Thev  were 

Christians  was  unspeakably  severe^     i     y 
excluded  from  all  public  honors  and  offices    they 
were  made  liable  to  accusations  of  many  kjnds. 
Td  were  powerless  to  secure  legal  redress      Nev- 
ertheless the  Church  of  God  lived  and  the  Word  o 
G  d  HumpWed.    The  Bible  thus  opposed  t  e  mos 
cultured  and  the  most  powerful  polythosts  m  the 
ea   y  days  of  Christianity.    It  also  earned  its  con- 
71  ad  triumphs  to  Northern  Europe,  and  over- 


V- 


"iV«S!BSiK«ltB' 


,|B^-S«t»«»»®*'W»fiffl!»«»S' 


d  not  share  His 
gods.     If    His 
les  must  be  de- 
le  to-day.     The 
2  alone,  be  wor- 
?orts  have  been 
y  of  heathenism 
s  opposed  to  the 
ceremonies,  and 
^  in  all  countries 
ecuted  the  early 
rts  utterly  to  de- 

0  turn  to  the  his- 
rible  was  his  op- 
id  the  Church  of 
reign  he  was  rea- 

the  influence  of 
tested  the  Scrip- 
ir  destruction,  led 
licts  against  them. 

the  condition  of 
vere.  They  were 
s  and  offices ;  they 
ns  of  many  kinds, 
gal  redress.  Nev- 
ed  and  the  Word  of 
is  opposed  the  most 

1  polytheists  in  the 
also  carried  its  con- 
n  Europe,  and  over- 


AGGRESSIVE  M/SSrO.V  OF  THE  BIB  I.E.     263 

threw  the  mighty  Odin,  Thor,  and  all  the  gods  of  the 
Valhalla,  even  as  it  overthrew  the  gods  of  classic 
Greece  and  Rome.  The  names  of  the  days  of  the 
week  show  the  mighty  hold  which  northern  heath- 
enism had  in  the  days  of  its  dominancy.  Every 
day  of  the  week,  as  the  name  of  each  implies,  was 
dedicated  to  some  form  of  heathen  worship.  We 
have  retained  the  names,  but  we  have  destroyed 
the  idols  which  once  these  names  enshrined. 
Christianity  has  within  the  last  half  century 
hurled  all  the  idols  from  their  altars  in  the  Ha- 
waiian Islands.  It  is  moving  forward  now  to  such 
conquests  in  nominally  heathen  lands  as  the  Church 
has  never  seen  since  the  days  of  the  apostles. 

The  Bible  is  also  opposed  to  pantheism.  Pan- 
theism identifies  mind  and  matter.  It  unifies  the 
finite  and  the  infinite,  making  them  simply  mani- 
festations of  one  universal  Being.  It  is  derived 
from  two  words,  pan,  all,  and  theos,  God.  It  thus 
identifies  the  universe  with  God,  and  God  with  the 
universe.  It  declares  that  God  is  all,  and  that  all 
is  God.  When  it  makes  all  God  it  becomes  an  ex- 
aggerated theism ;  when  it  declares  that  the  "  all  " 
has  absorbed  God  it  becomes  blank  atheism.  In 
its  practical  manifestations  it  is  to  all  intents  and 
purposes  atheism.  Without  doubt  the  antiquity  of 
pantheism  is  very  great,  as  in  some  of  its  forms  it 
was  known  in  the  earliest  days  of  Hindu  civiliza- 
tion. It  has  grown  out  of  polytheism,  which,  as 
we  have  seen,  is  the  instinctive  creed  of  the  most 


St»«a«SMMiSKi'^. 


364 


THE  OIP  liOOA'. 


primitive  races.      Greek  pantheism,  no  doubt.  1  ad 
an  origin  similar  to  that  of  ancient  panthe^sm   but 
it  is  more  varied  in  form  and  more  reasonable  .n 
1  hod.     Unfortunately  pantheism  has  appeared 
"  tntly.  at  different  stages  in  the  development 
of  Christianity.     One  can  see  how  certam  dehght- 
?ul  and  commendable  spiritual  characteristics  may 
;:l:re  in  this  doctrine,  if  it  be  held  mconne^^^^^^^^ 
with  a  firm  belief  in  the  existence  of  a  personal 
God  ■  but  when  so  held  it  is  inconsistent  pan  he- 
fsm  '  Modern  pantheism  showed  itself  .n  Giordano 
runo.  who  was  burnt  at  Rome  in  the  year  1600. 
Uha    also  appeared  in  Spinoza.     He  is  i^rhaps 
the  greatest  of  the  whole  class  of  pantheists  pro- 
duced either  in  the  ancient  or  the  modern  world. 
It  has  had  its  forceful  representatives  of  great  d.s^ 
t  nction  in  Germany  and  France,  m  England  and 
America.     But.  apart  from  Germany,  none  of  these 
tuntries  has   yet   produced   a   great  pantheisUc 
philosopher.      If  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  may  be 
regarded  as   a   pantheist,  he  is  an  exception  to 
tSs  statement;  but  his  pantheism  was  theology  I 
rather  than  philosophical.     Quite  recently  Chris- 
tan  Scientist's  have  developed  a  shallow  and  un^ 
reasoning  pantheism.      It  is  almost   amusing   to 
hear  men  and  women  of  most  immature  thought 
using  the  phrases  in  which  lurk  the  germs  of  an- 
c    n?  pantheism.     These  unscientific  religionists 
and  irreligious  scientists  think  they  have  discov- 
ered some  new  truths.     Their  fads  are  really  the 


■  .5!^a9ssrE«E>E3WP-' 


S-!5»!r«.<.«s;»^3SKa6*f.'''    w»M«*as!SKSKS 


sj^^ieaii^iawsseMatoM'WW^^^' 


AOCRESSIl'E  MfSS/OX  01'    THE   HIHI.E.     265 


1,  no  doubt,  had 
;  pantheism,  but 
)re  reasonable  in 
m  has  appeared 
the  development 
/  certain  delight- 
aracteristics  may 
ild  in  connection 
nee  of  a  personal 
insistent  panthe- 
itself  in  Giordano 
in  the  year  1600. 
^.     He  is  perhaps 
,f  pantheists  pro- 
;he  modern  world, 
itives  of  great  dis- 
;,  in  England  and 
lany,  none  of  these 

great  pantheistic 

Emerson  may  be 
s  an  exception  to 
sm  was  theological 
lite  recently  Chris- 

a  shallow  and  un- 
ilmost   amusing   to 

immature  thought 
k  the  germs  of  an- 
:ientific  religionists 
k  they  have  discov- 
r  fads  are  really  the 


discarded  cult»  of  the  Orient.  The  Word  of  God 
opposes  pantheism  in  whatever  form  it  appears. 
Its  errors  seem  to  be  anticipated,  as  are  also  those 
of  materialism,  polytheism,  and  atheism,  in  the 
first  sublime  sentence  of  the  Hible.  We  are  there 
told  that  God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth. 
That  sentence,  as  we  have  partially  seen,  denies 
atheism  because  it  asserts  God;  it  denies  mate- 
rialism, for  it  affirms  creation ;  it  denies  pantheism, 
for  it  declares  the  personality  of  God.  These 
isms,  like  all  other  philosophies  and  religions 
which  are  opposed  to  Jesus  Christ,  must  one  day 
be  utterly  overthrown.  A  true  belief  in  the 
Word  of  God  utterly  overthrows  all  pantheistic 
notions  of  God,  declaring  not  only  His  eternity 
and  universality,  hut  also  His  personality,  with 
an  emphasis  which  can  neither  be  intelligently 
contradicted  nor  continuously  resisted. 

The  Bible  and  Agnosticism. 

This  is  another  and  comparatively  modern  form 
of  infidel  teaching.  The  word  is  composed  of  two 
Greek  words  meaning  not  and  knoivlcdge.  Agnos- 
ticism was  the  creed  of  a  sect  in  the  third  cen- 
tury who  held  that  God  did  not  know  all  things. 
Now,  however,  an  agncstic  is  one  who  holds  the 
theory  of  nescience,  or  "  no  knowledge  "  on  the 
part  of  men.  Huxley  practically  introduced  this 
word  into  modern  nomenclature  with  its  present 
significance.     He  tells  us  that  most  of  his  col- 


«sweaiSM»»s*** 


i(^b 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


leacucs  in  the  different  societies  to  which  he  be- 
longed were  "  ists  "  of  some  sort,  while  he  was  a 
„.an  without  a  "rag  of  a  label."     He  therefore 
invented,  in  its  modern  sense,  the  title  asnostic. 
It  seemed  to  him  to  be  antithetical  to  gnostic  as 
found  in  Church  history.     The  agnostic  does  not 
really  deny  the  existence  of  God.  but  he  affirms 
that  God  is  unknowable.    What  he  probably  really 
means  is  that  God  is  not  understandable      The 
agnostic  teaches  that  knowledge  is  derived  exclu^ 
sfvely  through  the  senses.     All.  therefore,  which 
lies  outside  of  the  sphere  of  sense  lies  outside  of 
the  grasp  of  our  faculties.     Any  subject  which 
transcends  the  limitations  of   human  experience 
cannot  be  understood  and  ought  not  to  be  believed. 
This  school  of  thought  seeks  the  middle  ground  m 
theology  between  that  occupied  by  the  dogmatic 
theist  and  the  philosophical  atheist.     Its  diffe  - 
ence  from  atheism  is  only  seeming;  it  pretends 
great  modesty,  but  it  virtually  affirms  that  what- 
ever  cannot  be  thoroughly  understood  practically 
has  no  existence.     Tt  seems  evident  that  agnos- 
ticism is  losing  its  power.     There  is  a  dangerous 
gnosticism,  but  there  is  also  a  very  blessed  gnos- 
ficism.     We  rejoice  to  hear  Job  say.  '      know 
and  the  apostle  Paul  to  echo.  "know,    and  the 
beloved  John  as  he  declares.  "  We  know.       The 
Word  of  God  fully  teaches  that  while  God  inay  not 
bo  fully  comprehended,  He  certainly  can  be  par- 
tially apprehended  by  every  loving  and  devoted 


•vW-S>i.»rt*«Vt)t4«fc 


Sft-i£«»5««aj:-iif'i^**^*H«>}if;s;>(.sriE*t^^  - 


to  which  he  be- 
while  he  was  a 
•     He  therefore 
le  title  agnostic. 
ical  to  gnostic  as 
.gnostic  does  not 
1,  but  he  affirms 
le  probably  really 
rstandable.     The 
is  derived  exclu- 
,  therefore,  which 
ise  lies  outside  of 
ny  subject  which 
luman  experience 
lot  to  be  believed, 
middle  ground  in 
by  the  dogmatic 
heist.     Its  differ- 
ming;  it  pretends 
affirms  that  what- 
erstood  practically 
trident  that  agnos- 
»ere  is  a  dangerous 
very  blessed  gnos- 
ob  say,  "  I  know," 
'  I  know,"  and  the 
'We  know."     The 
while  God  may  not 
irtainly  can  be  par- 
loving  and  devoted 


ACCKESSIVK  MISSION  OF  Till-    DIULE.     iM 

disciple.     There  is  a  great  deal  of  ground  betv  een 
the  extremes  of  gnosticism  and  agnosticism.     A 
word  has  been  recently  coined  by  Dr.  Jos.ph  Cook 
and  the  late  Dr.  McCosh  which  exactly  expresses 
the  idea.     This  word  was  suggestf  1  by  the  lan- 
guage of  the  apostle  Paul  in  I  C<^-   xiii.  I2,  when 
he  says,  "  Now  I  know  in  part."     iVwkward  though 
this  word  may  appear  to  the  eye  and  may  sound  to 
the  ear,  it  is  an  extremely  useful  word  and  will 
become  common  in  the  near  future.     The  wise 
man  is  neither  an  agnostic   nor  a  gnostic.     IJke 
the  apostle  Paul,  he  knows  in  part.     He  is  there- 
ore  a  "  merognostic."     This  is  the  true  attitude 
for  all  Christian  believers  to  occupy.     There  are 
many  things  which  now  we  do  not  know  and  can- 
not now  know.     The  light,  however,  is  growing 
brighter  day  by  day.    One  day  we  shall  know  even 
as  we  are  known.     The  dawn  of  that  day  hastens. 
Let  us  now  frankly  acknowledge  that  we  know 
only  in  part— that  we  are  merognostics.     Standing 
on  this  ground  we  shall  have  common  sense,  prac- 
tical experience,  and  divine  revelation  on  our  side. 

The  Bible  Opposes  Islamism. 
This  word  is  used  in  this  connection  as  synony- 
mous with  Mohammedanism.  The  word  itself  is 
Arabic,  implying  submission,  that  is,  submission 
to  God.  Cairo  may  be  regarded  as  the  capital  of 
Mohammedanism,  as  the  great  university  of  this 
faith  is  located  in  that  city. 


ss=»?»*4«'»-i*'<*SE*t«>'**»*'' 


26d 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Mohammedanism   in   its  rise  and   progress,  it 
must  be  admitted,  was  an  illustration  of  the  sur- 
vival of  th"  fitter.      It  came  into  contact  with  an 
utterly  weak  and  worthless  form  of  Christianity; 
and  it  was  characterized  by  a  remarkable  degree  of 
consecration  to  its  principles  and  of  zeal  in  their 
dissemination.     It  swept  like  wildfire  over  great 
portions  of  territory,  and  soon  secured  millions  of 
believers.     Islamism  holds  that  it  was  once  the 
religion  of  all  men,  but  after  sin  had  been  intro- 
duced idolatry  for  a  time  triumphed.     Mohammed 
was  a  man  of  marvellous  power,  whatever  may  be 
said  of  his  honesty  f^nd  morality.      His  religion  is 
a  combination  of  Judaism,  paganism,  and  Christi- 
anity.    The  trinity  of  Mohammedanism  is  Moses, 
Christ,  and    Mohammed.     The    Koran    contains 
much  that  is  admirable,  and  more  that  is  abomi- 
nable.    Within  thirty-six  years  after  the  death  of 
Mohammed,  Islamism  was  clamoring  at  Constanti- 
nople for  entrance  into  Europe.     But  for  the  dis- 
covery of  that  bituminous  compound  called  "  Greek 
fire,"  Islamism  would  then  have  entered  Europe, 
and  would  have  swept  over  continents  and  seas, 
and  might  to-day  be  the  religion  of  Great  Britain 
and  America.     In  71 1  Mohammedanism,  defeated 
at  the  East,  entered  Europe  through  the  Straits  of 
Gibraltar.     But  for  its  terrific  defeat  at  Tours, 
Mohammedanism  would  have  had  one  more  oppor- 
tunity of  sweeping  over  all   Europe,   and  finally 
America  as  well.     It  thundered  before  the  gates  of 


>.*,(iiaW«S;.i'.JR.*W*-^'>>-''--'^ 


>Si*?J,'    vifetaftSAta**'?*-- 


.-ilk'OijiftftrtsfciiSSia^i 


and   progress,  it 
ration  of  the  sur- 

0  contact  with  an 
n  of  Christianity; 
narkable  degree  of 
nd  of  zeal  in  their 
vildfire  over  great 
secured  millions  of 
t  it  was  once  the 
in  had  been  intro- 
3hed.     Mohammed 
r,  whatever  may  be 
y.      His  religion  is 
inism,  and  Christi- 
nedanism  is  Moses, 
e    Koran    contains 
lore  that  is  abomi- 
s  after  the  death  of 
joring  at  Constanti- 
.     But  for  the  dis- 
lound  called  "  Greek 
ve  entered  Europe, 
ontinents  and  seas, 
ion  of  Great  Britain 
imedanism,  defeated 

1  rough  the  Straits  of 
ic  defeat  at  Tours, 
lad  one  more  oppor- 
Europe,  and  finally 
d  before  the  gates  of 


AGGRESSrvE  MISSION  OF   THE  BIBLE.     269 

Vienna,  and  its  crescent  now  gleams  from  the  lofty 
dome  of  St.  Sophia  in  Constantinople.  Without 
doubt  Mr.  William  Walters  is  right  in  declaring  that 
the  Sepoy  rebellion  of  1857  was  one  of  the  fruits  of 
the  implacable  enmity  of  Mohammedanism  toward 
Christianity.  To-day  it  numbers  its  followers  by 
hundreds  of  millions;  but  there  are  signs  that  the 
crescent  is  waning  before  the  cross,  and  that  the 
words  of  Christ,  "  I,  if  I  be  lifted  up  from  the  earth, 
will  draw  all  men  unto  Me,"  are  being  fulfilled. 

It  would  be  proper  in  this  connection  to  speak 
of  the  conflicts  of  the   Bible  with  papalism  and 
with   Satanism   in  all  the  varied  forms  of  their 
manifestations ;  but  that  discussion  will  appear  in 
a  slightly  different  form  in  a  later  chapter.     Let 
us  stand  with  undaunted  hearts  beside  the  cross 
of  the  crucified  Christ.     That  cross  has  beaten 
down  philosophies  hoary  with  age  and  honored  by 
learning.     It  has  been  carried  in  triumph  over  the 
rocky  hills  of  Palestine,  and  from  island  to  island 
of  the  sea,  until  now  it  is  erected  in  almo.st  all  the 
lands  under  heaven.     God's  Word  will  go  forward 
on  its  heroic  and  triumphant  career  until  every 
error  is  overthrown  and   truth  is  established  in 
every  land      Christ  has  girded  His   sword  upon 
His  thigh— the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the 
word  of   God.     And    that   sword   will   never   be 
sheathed  until  every  form  of  error  is  destroyed, 
and  truth  in  all  its  symmetry,  beauty,  and  divinity 
is  established  throughout  the  earth. 


THE    SUGGESTIVE     SCIENTISM     OF 
THE    BIBLE. 


XVI. 

The  Suggestive  Scientism  of  the  Bible. 

The  Bible  was  not  written  as  a  text-book  of 
science,  as  that  term  is  usually  understood.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  the  term  science  is  often  unduly 
limited.  There  is  no  reason  in  the  nature  of  the 
case  why  that  term  should  be  so  generally  lim- 
ited to  what  are  known  as  the  physical  sciences. 
There  is  a  science  of  language,  a  science  of  his- 
tory, and  a  science  of  literature,  as  truly  as  there 
is  physical  science.  Science  deals  with  phenom- 
ena, and  the  term  may  rightly  be  applied  to  many 
departments  of  human  thought  and  life.  Science 
is  knowledge ;  it  is  comprehension  or  understand- 
ing of  any  system  of  truths  or  facts.  It  covers  a 
wide  field  of  mental  activity,  in  whatever  depart- 
ment that  activity  may  be  manifested.  There  is, 
however,  a  science  with  which  the  word  of  God  is 
intimately  connected-  -the  noblest,  sublimest,  and 
divinest  of  all  sciences,  the  science  of  salvation. 

But  while  the  Bible  is  especially  concerned  with 
that  science,  it  touches  most  interestingly  and  sug- 
gestively many  lines  of  thought  and  systems  of 
fact  which  have  been  organized  into  modern  sci- 
i8 


»ii'i^E^{*^^VS^^;-S^<*■■^Ct^^r^--:    ■■iwt^^>-' ■ 


■«--afl?ar"  •f-^-iHAf^^i^'i.--^' 


'>.■^,^te;\M>--*-"•e■:  -.'••'ii'^-- 


J74  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

ence      There  is  in  the  Bible  a  wonderful  degree 
of  knowledge  touching  mysterious  f  P^f '  P^^" 
nomena  which  have  been  but  recent^  reduced  Jo 
the  formulas  of  scientific  knowledge.     It  is  sim 
ply  remarkable  that  the  Bible  has  so  frequently 
Si  ipaled  the  conclusions  of  the  most  authonta- 
iv^rldern  scientists;  and  it  is  -PO-bie  to  ex- 
p lain  this  anticipation  except  on  ^^^^^y^^^^^l 
divine  guidance  in  the  record  found  m  the  Bible^ 
There  is  space  in  this  chapter  simply  to  touch 
Ipo"  some'of  these  remarkable  anticipations  of 
Idem  discovery,  as  these  anticipations  are  re- 
corded on  the  inspired  page. 

CosMOGONic  Science. 

In  „„  department  of  human  inquiry  have  in- 
spired writers  shown  greater  diversity  of  thought 
and  puerility  of  expression  than  they  have  .n  the^ 
cosmogonical  statements.     Cosmogony  .s  the  sc 
ence  of  the  origin  or  creation  of  the  "mverse; 
Is  the  doctrine  of  the  formation  of  the  world.     It 
ha   been  a  favorite  study  both  of  anoent  and  mod- 
ern  times.     It  is  fitting  that  the  methods  of  modern 
dencTshould  be  appUed  to  all  the  not.ons  of  cos- 
Tgony  that  were  cherished  and  formulated  by 
rSwriters.     M-y  of  ^se  notion  are  augh- 
able  in  the  extreme.     We  are  gravely  lom    > 
n  pired  cosmogonists  that  men  rested  "Pon* 
earth,  and  that  the  earth  rested  upon  a  huge  turtle , 


K'. 


a  wonderful  degree 
ious  physical  phe- 
recently  reduced  to 
wledge.     It  is  sim- 
has  so  frequently 
the  most  authorita- 
is  impossible  to  ex- 
3n  the  hypothesis  of 
found  in  the  Bible, 
er  simply  to  touch 
ble  anticipations  of 
inticipations  are  re- 


:IENCE. 

lan  inquiry  have  in- 
•  diversity  of  thought 
lan  they  have  in  their 
:osmogony  is  the  sci- 
n  of  the  universe;  it 
ion  of  the  world.     It 
;h  of  ancient  and  mod- 
the  methods  of  modern 
all  the  notions  of  cos- 
id  and  formulated  by 
hese  notions  are  laugh- 
ire  gravely  told  by  un- 
men  rested  upon  the 
ted  upon  a  huge  turtle ; 


SUGGESTIVE   SCIENTISM  OF   THE  BIRI.E.     275 

but  these  wise  cosmogonists  thoughtlessly  fail  to 
tell  us  on  what  the  huge  turtle  rests.  This  is  a 
most  unpardonable  oversight  on  their  part.  They 
have  also  told  us  that  the  sea  is  a  majestic  whale, 
leviathan,  or  other  aquatic  monster,  and  the  tides 
of  the  sea  they  attributed  to  the  breathing  of  this 
enormous  creature  thus  evolved  from  their  own 
vivid  and  untrained  imagination.  The  cosmogony 
of  the  Hindus  is  among  the  most  extravagant  and 
monstrous.  The  cosmogony  of  Hesiod  is  one  of 
the  earliest  outside  of  the  Bible.  This  was  deliv- 
ered in  verse,  and  it  served  as  the  groundwork  of 
many  of  the  speculations  of  later  Greek  philoso- 
phers. The  cosmogony  of  Homer  is  poeticil  and 
beautiful,  and  it  represented  the  popular  views  of 
the  Greek  people  regarding  these  mysterious  sub- 
jects. The  Ionic  philosophers,  including  Thales, 
Anaximenes,  Anaximander,  and  Anaxagoras,  are 
among  the  most  celebrated  of  the  ancient  world. 
The  view  of  Ovid  bears  a  striking  resemblance  to 
the  Mosaic  account  of  creation ;  indeed,  so  marked 
is  the  similarity  as  to  suggest  that  it  was  derived 
by  tradition  from  that  account.  There  are  three 
great  views  among  the  ancients  regarding  the 
origin  of  the  world.  One  represents  the  world  as 
eternal  in  form  as  well  as  substance ;  another  rep- 
resents all  matter  as  eternal,  but  the  form  as  hav- 
ing been  assumed  at  some  historic  epoch ;  and  the 
third,  that  of  the  saci  c  I  Scriptures,  attributes  the 
origin  of  the  world  to  a  spiritual  cause,  or  divine 


■*ie»4MsSi!i-a»KW*s»*»---''-'''*' "'*''* 


376 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Creator.     TV-e  firs,  two  have  -die-  — s  m 
their  substance  and  statement.     They  ^m" 

find  that  differences  existed  according 

nors=trr;:rSesean^ 

--t;':::n::rr:hrran;:: 
r:.':rtrrsn.o.on.o.Mo^^^^^^^^^^^ 

„„y  of  the  Bible,  is  untrue        he  acU  0^^     g^^ 
'-^/'"^".rX  in   a  -arable   way   in 

"°"  dll  erro"     Hoi  came  they  to  be  so  much 
:>r.r  liters  of  cou-i^;°— „S 

C;hc:rc:nJe.p.in^eJact.^^^^^^^^^^ 
the  Hindu  Shasters,  ""'•^^7^,^7'7h  comparison 

^T'lTX  bX:  thnLTesuits  o-r  mod. 
as  does  *at  °f  Ae  B  ^^  ^^^^  ^^^,  „. 

rr::rdU:r  have  been  sor^iy^oa.^^^^ 

-='^'  Tr  o"^:hrcr:Ce:ls  «i.b 

Slilot— ^-inas^^^^^^^^^ 
criticism  hold  up  to  the  contempt  of 


ndlcss  variations  in 
t.  They  differ  ac- 
ntury  in  which  they 
tians  differs  widely 
ons;  and  so  we  shall 
ccording  to  the  na- 
nay  study. 

^ny  of  these  ancient 
ble    ridicule.      That 
Dt  show  that  any  one 
)f  Moses,  the  cosmog- 
to  the  acknowledged 
lis  is  a  fact  of  great 
,  remarkable   way   in 
tispired  Word  of  God. 
,e  so  wonderfully  pre- 
,me  they  to  be  so  much 
tries  containing  great 
,rians,    and    immortal 
rine  inspiration  of  the 
the  fact  that  neither 
.ny  heathen  cosmogony 
X  bear  such  comparison 
rith  the  results  of  mod- 
,at  some  of  the  most  re- 
:  been  so  fully,  so  accu- 
nticipated  by  the  state- 
hich  many  persons  with 
,nd  in  a  spirit  of  hostile 
contempt  of  the  world? 


SUGGESTIVK   SCIENTIST  OF   THE  BIBLE.     277 

Such  persons  take  unnecessary  pains  to  advertise 
their  own  ignorance. 

Read  in  Job  xxvi.  7,  "  He  stretcheth  out  the 
north  over  the  empty  place,  and  hangcth  the  earth 
upon  nothing."     These  are  wonderful  words.      In 
this  chapter  Job  begins  to  reply  to  all  that  had 
been  said  by  his  three  friends.     Beginning  with 
the  fifth  verse  of  this  chapter,  and  going  through 
to  end  of  the  fourteenth,  he  gives  a  statement  of 
the  power,   majesty,  and  glory  of  the  Almighty, 
and  thus  he  showed  his  friends  that  he  was  not 
possessed  of  any  low  or  grovelling  conceptions  of 
God,  but  that  he  could  use  language  as  lofty  as 
their  own  in  the  description  of  God's  power  and 
character.     He  could  even  surpass  his  friends  in 
his  views  of  God's  majesty  and  glory.     It  is  in 
this  connection  and  for  this  purpose  that  he  utters 
the   seventh  verse  of  this  great  chapter.     Job's 
poem  as  a  whole  gives  deeply  interesting  views  of 
the  cosmogony  which  prevailed  in  that  remote  time 
and  mysterious  land.     The  references  which  he 
makes  to  astronomy,  geography,  and  to  many  arts 
which   are   mentioned  in    the    book    of  Job  add 
greatly  to  its  value.     Nowhere  else  can  we  get 
information  so  extensive,  so  accurate,  and  so  effect- 
ive on  these  subjects  as  in  this  dramatic  poem. 
By  the  north,  in  the  verse,  he  seems  to  mean  the 
north  pole,  or  the  heavens  as  they  seem  to  revolve 
around  that  pole.     Possibly  he  conceived  of  the 
earth  as  a  vast  extended  plain,  and  of  the  heavens 


*:*.^«^  -'^^^^Ss^-''-'^*'^- 


i^^ey^ii-'  v's^«a/«^*>v^-=-.-" '*'-«s^'-' 


,-:i>--^>lfc*..-  ^'a**'* 


278 


rilR  OLD  nooK. 


as  poised  above  it.  The  hn.  ivciis  ate  thus  repre- 
sented as  beiiif.'  stretclicd  out,  and  they  are  sus- 
tained by  the  power  of  God.  Milton  finely  ex- 
presses a  sinilar  thought  in  the  words  : 

"  'I'lic  c.irtli  is  balanced,  from  her  centic  hung." 

It  is  not  afTirmed  in  this  lecture  that  Job 
was  familiar  with  the  globularity  or  sphericity  of 
the  earth;  and  perhaps  he  was  not  familiar  with 
the  diurnal  and  annual  revolution  of  the  earth. 
But  he  certainly  conceived  of  it  as  lying  on  the 
vacant  air,  and  so  maintained  by  the  power  of 
God.  There  are,  indeed,  passages  in  some  of  the 
classical  writers  which  suggest  that  hints  of  the 
true  figure  of  the  earth  flashed  through  their  minds ; 
but  these  hints  were  not  supported  by  sufficient 
evidence  to  establish  a  general  law  or  to  create  a 
uniform  belief.  The  marvel  is  that  the  descrip- 
tion given  by  Job  should  be  appropriate  to  the 
scientific  facts  of  to-day.  Job,  writing  to-day, 
with  all  the  knowledge  of  astronomy  now  possessed 
by  astronomical  scientists,  could  not  have  used 
language  more  scientifically  correct  than  that 
which  he  employed  in  the  passage  quoted  from  his 
poem.  He  could  not  better  have  set  forth  his  con- 
ception of  the  majesty  of  God.  God  truly  "  hang- 
eth  the  earth  upon  nothing  "  ;  the  planets  and  the 
vast  sun  hang  upon  nothing ;  and  in  that  position 
God  sustains  these  heavenly  bodies,  and  governs 
this  mighty  universe.  Why  do  we  not  find  in 
Job  the  puerilities  about  the  turtle.'     Why  not  the 


13  ate  thus  repre- 
and  they  are  sus- 
Milton  finely  ex- 
words  : 

ccntie  hung." 

lecture  that  Job 
y  or  sphericity  of 
not  familiar  with 
ion  of  the  earth. 
t  as  lying  on  the 
by  the  power  of 
es  in  some  of  the 
that  hints  of  the 
rough  their  minds; 
)rted  by  sufficient 
law  or  to  create  a 
that  the  descrip- 
ippropriate  to  the 
(,  writing  to-day, 
)niy  now  possessed 
Id  not  have  used 
correct  than  that 
IQ  quoted  from  his 
e  set  forth  his  con- 
God  truly  "  hang- 
le  planets  and  the 
id  in  that  position 
)dies,  and  governs 
0  we  not  find  in 
tie?     Why  not  the 


.'^rCGESTIVE  SCIENTISAf  OF    THE   liini.E.     279 

childish  babble  about  the  sea  being  a  great  mon- 
ster? How  comes  it  to  pass  that  he  describes  this 
terraqueous  globe  as  neither  resting  upon  pillars 
nor  hanging  upon  an  axle  ?  How  comes  it  to  pass, 
except  on  the  supposition  of  the  inspiration  of  the 
Word  of  God,  that  Job  represents  the  world  as 
firmly  held  in  its  place  while  it  hangs  upon  nothing  ? 
No  man  could  hang  even  a  feather  upon  nothing. 
How  then  does  God  hang  the  whole  earth  upon 
nothing?  And  how  comes  it  to  pass  that  Job 
knew  that  God  so  hung  the  earth  ?  Explain,  O  ye 
critics,  who  deny  divine  inspiration  and  superhu- 
man wisdom  to  the  writers  of  this  glorious  book! 
Account  if  you  will  for  Job's  modern  knowledge 
in  that  ancient  time.  We  know  not  with  absolute 
certainty  who  Job  was,  neither  do  we  know  the 
country  in  which  he  lived,  nor  the  century  in 
which  he  wrote.  And  yet  here  we  have  him 
making  statements  regarding  mysterious  scientific 
matters  with  as  much  accuracy  as  if  he  made  them 
to-day,  in  the  light  of  all  the  knowledge  of  thou- 
sands of  years.  Here  stands  God.  Here  appears 
conclusively,  conspicuously,  and  divinely  Job's 
heavenly  wisdom,  his  matchless  knowledge,  and 
his  divine-human  inspiration. 

Harvey  Anticipated. 
When  we  turn  to  Proverbs  iv.  23,  we  have  these 
words:    "Keep  thy  heart  with  all   diligence,  for 
out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life."     Here  again  we 


a>  ^^^tTaiCCgv'^^»^=i^!^F^ 


***rSj^i»i  ^aii.^tT-i.-'^i^-i'^''-  ^ 


•8e 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


have  a  statement  which  challenges  our  thought 
and  commands  our  respect.  We  arc  counselled 
"above  all  !;.'i.:!)ing"  to  guard  the  heart.  This  is 
sound  advice,  ICvery  observant  man  knows  how 
apt  the  affections  are  to  go  astray.  The  reason  is 
assjf^ued  for  keeping  the  heart  above  all  other 
keeping — "for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  of  life." 
'I'iic  Hebrew  is  here  remarkably  suggestive, /f/'.sf/'// 
cliayim ;  literally  translated  it  is,  "the  goingR 
out  of  lives."  This  is  striking  language.  Il' 
appropriateness  is  recognized  to-day  in  the  bright 
light  which  modern  science  has  shed  on  the 
whole  subject  of  physiology  and  anatomy.  Dis- 
coveries touching  this  science  are  the  most  murked 
of  our  time.  The  discovery  of  the  circulation  of 
the  blood  has  made  William  Harvey  iinmonal. 
He  was  born  at  Folkestone,  Kent,  England,  on 
April  1st,  1 578.  His  father  was  a  sturdy  yeoman. 
He  himself  was  one  of  nine  children,  and  five  of 
his  brothers  became  London  merchants  of  consid- 
erable wcilth  and  of  acknowledged  worth.  When 
sixteen  years  of  age,  Harvey  was  matriculated  at 
Caius  College,  Cambridge.  His  degree  in  arts 
was  taken  in  1597.  The  University  of  Padua  was 
then  the  most  celebrated  school  of  medicine  in  the 
world,  and  thither  Harvey  went,  upon  his  gradua- 
tion, to  study  his  profession.  Five  years  he  spent 
in  this  university,  under  the  instruction  of  the 
most  eminent  men  in  the  profession  of  medicine. 
In  1602  he  received  his  doctor's  diploma,  and  re- 


fOOA'. 


i 


allonges  our  thought 
VVc  are  counselled 
d  the  heart.  This  is 
,'ant  man  knows  how 
istray.  The  reason  is 
heart  above  all  other 
i  the  issues  of  life." 
ibly  suggestive,  /of sot// 
d  it  is,  "  the  going'-- 
"iking  language.  It 
d  to-day  in  the  bright 
ce  has  shed  on  the 
r  and  anatomy.  Dis- 
e  are  the  most  muvked 
of  the  circulation  of 
im  Harvey  immortal. 
;,  Kent,  England,  on 
■  was  a  sturdy  yeoman. 
:  children,  and  five  of 
1  merchants  of  consid- 
ledged  worth.  When 
Y  was  matriculated  at 
His  degree  in  arts 
niversity  of  Padua  was 
lool  of  medicine  in  the 
rent,  upon  his  gradua- 
Five  years  he  spent 
lie  instruction  of  the 
ofession  of  medicine. 
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SUGGESTIVE   SCIENTISM  OF   THE  BIBLE.     281 

turned  to  England  in  the  same  year.     Cambridge 
also  gave  him  the  doctor's  degree.     He  then  set- 
tled in  London  as  a  physician.     In   161 5  he  was 
Lumleian  lecturer  at  the  College  of  Physicians. 
He  was  also  appointed  a  physician  to  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital.     His  first  course  of  lectures  was 
delivered  in  16 16,  the  year  in  which  Shakespeare 
died,  and  about  that  time  he  suggested  and  ex- 
plained  those  theories  of  the  circulation  of  the 
blood  which  have  made  his  name  a  household  word 
in  every  civilized  land.     In  1619  he  gave  some 
publicity  to  his  views,  but  it  was  not  until   1628 
that   he  gave   them  fully  to  the  world.     In  the 
mean  time  he  had  freed  his  argument  from  the  ob- 
jections  raised  by  the  most  skilful   anatomists. 
He    was    appointed    physician   extraordinary   to 
James  I.,  and  in  1632  to  Charles  I.     In  1636  he 
publicly  demonstrated   to   Caspar    H  of  man,   the 
distinguished  professor  of   Nuremberg,  and  one 
of  the  chief  opponents  of  his  views,  the  founda- 
tions upon  which  they  rested.     He  died  in  his 
eightieth  year,  June   3d.    1657.      He   expressed 
frankly  his  indebtedness  to  one  of  his  former  in- 
structors, Fabricius,  for  his  discovery.     It  appears 
certain  that  Caesalpinus,  who  died  at  Rome  about 
the  time  that  Harvey   left   Italy,   distinctly   ex- 
pressed, in  one  of  his  works,  his  conviction  as  to 
the  circulation  of  the  blood.     But  it  is  equally 
true  that  beyond  the  inductive  method  of  research 
practised  by  his  Paduan  professors  and  some  re- 


Sif 


fc£iS^^SM<iJSr'fea^:#"3il!^**>^'^i<'°'?^'^*-5^>'-?'"-«i^-^^ ' ' 


,r&'iwfe";^-:'T-^  -i? 


282 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


suits  to  which  that  method  led,  and  their  discov- 
ery of  the  valves  in  the  veins,  the  credit  of  discov- 
ering  the   circulation   of  the  blood  undoubtedly 
belongs  to  Harvey.     In  this  case,  as  in  the  case 
of   almost   all   discoveries,   many  men  had  their 
attention  directed  about  the  same  time  to  the  re- 
sults which  some  one  of  them  would  give  to  the 
world.     As  early  as  the  time  of  Linacre  physi- 
cians knew  that  the  blood  was  not  stagnant  in  the 
body.     Homer  knew  this ;  so  did  every  augur  who 
inspected  the  entrails  of  a  victim.     Plato  uses  ex- 
pressions implicative  of  this  knowledge;  so  does 
Shakespeare.      But  they  had  no  conception  of  a 
continuous  stream  flowing  from  the  heart  and  re- 
turning to  its  source.     This  discovery,  the  true  cir- 
culation, Harvey  made ;  and  this  the  Bible  antici- 
pated.    He  for  a  time  experienced  the  treatment 
which  is  given  to  all  inventors  or  discoverers,  and 
was  looked  upon  with  suspicion  by  many  and  with 
contempt  by  some.     But  he  enjoyed  the  intimacy 
of  kings  and  of  such  men  as  Bacon,  Hobbes,  Cow- 
ley, and  other  persons  of  great  note  in  England, 
and  he  lived  to  be  considered  the  first  anatomist 
and  physician  of  his  time,  and  to  see  his  discov- 
eries   acknowledged    by    the    ablest    physicians 
throughout  the  civilized  world. 


)0A'. 

id,  and  their  discov- 
,  the  credit  of  discov- 
;  blood  undoubtedly 
case,  as  in  the  case 
lany  men  had  their 
same  time  to  the  re- 
n  would  give  to  the 
le  of  Li  nacre  physi- 
s  not  stagnant  in  the 
did  every  augur  who 
;tim.     Plato  uses  ex- 
knowledge;  so  does 
1  no  conception  of  a 
om  the  heart  and  re- 
liscovery,  the  true  cir- 
this  the  Bible  antici- 
ienced  the  treatment 
rs  or  discoverers,  and 
on  by  many  and  with 
enjoyed  the  intimacy 
Bacon,  Hobbes,  Cow- 
eat  note  in  England, 
ed  the  first  anatomist 
and  to  see  his  discov- 
le    ablest    physicians 
Id. 


1 


SUGGESTIVE  SCIENTISM  OF   THE  BIBLE.     283 

Harvey  and  Solomon. 

We  give  all  honor  to  William  Harvey ;  not  one 
laurel  would  we  pluck  from  the  wreath   which 
crowns  his  brow.     But  we  are  obliged  to  say  that 
in  this  passage  in  Proverbs,  as  well  as  in  some 
passages  in  the  Epistles,  and  in  still  other  parts  of 
the  Bible,  Harvey's  discovery  was  anticipated  by 
inspired  writers.     This  passage  is  a  plain  allusion 
to  the  arteries  and  to  their  functions  in  carrying 
the  blood  from  the  heart  to  the  utmost  extremities 
of  the  body.     The  heart  is  the  secret  source  of 
power.     So  long  as  it  is  capable  of  receiving  and 
propelling  the  blood,  just  so  long  will  at  least  a 
reasonable  degree  of  health  be  enjoyed.     When 
the  heart  fails  to  discharge  these  functions,  life 
must  speedily  end.     Nothing  in  all  the  universe  is 
more  wonderful  than  the  heart  within  our  bodies. 
All  the  blood  passes  through  it.      It  is  stated  that 
in  a  state  of  health  the  heart  contracts  itself  at 
least  sixty  times  in  a  ninute,  and  consequently 
thirty-six  hundred  times  in  an  hour;  and  that  at 
each  beat  of  the  pulse  it  throws  out  about  two 
ounces  of  blood,  so  that  there  passes  through  the 
heart  every  hour  about  three  hundred  and   fifty 
pounds  of  blood.     In  order  to  throw  out  this  quan- 
tity of  blood  so  that  it  shall  reach  as  far  as  two 
feet  into  the  great  arteries,  the  heart  must  resist 
a  weight  of  twelve  thousand  six  hundred  pounds. 
This    marvellous  instrument   keeps  on   beating, 


*^^%Q^;-.;iSaiME*^>w»«te^Ti««ffi?#.iiii^-U'-'*««fc>-^'*  **-  ^---^ 


■=^«i«t/^»t*^4*.',rrijn.i^,.^ 


a84 


THE   OLD  BOOK, 


whether  we  wake  or  sleep,  for  eighty  or  one  hun- 
tlred  or  more  years.  We  are  brought  into  a  kind 
of  human  sympathy  with  the  throbbing  engine  in 
one  of  our  great  ocean  steamers,  as  it  throbs  night 
and  day  for  six  or  seven  or  eight  consecutive  days. 
Kut  here  is  this  wonderful  mechanism  within  our 
own  bodies  performing  its  marvellous  functions 
every  second  for  threescore  years  and  ten  and 
more.  Truly  we  are  fearfully,  wonderfully,  and 
gloriously  made.  The  term  "  heart  failure  "  is  a 
convenient  phrase  to  cover  a  multitude  of  sins  as 
well  as  a  great  degree  of  ignorance. 

Just  as  the  heart  is  the  fountain  whence  all  the 
issues  of  life  proceed,  so  the  greatest  care  must  be 
taken  that  it  be  preserved  in  its  normal  condition. 
It  is  not  otherwise  in  spiritual  things.  The  heart 
is  the  seat  of  the  affections ;  the  heart  ought  to 
be  the  throne  of  Jesus  Christ.  All  the  streams 
of  spiritual  activity  must  proceed  from  Him;  all 
the  faculties  of  the  soul,  when  spiritually  it  is  in 
good  condition,  show  that  God  is  in  immediate 
control.  We  must,  therefore,  watch  with  the  ut- 
most care  that  this  fountain  and  its  connecting 
veins  are  'ccpt  in  workable  order.  If  the  heart  be 
pure  and  holy  all  its  purposes  will  be  just  and 
good;  if  it  be  defiled,  impure,  nothing  can  pro- 
ceed from  it  but  evil,  and  that  continually.  Well 
may  the  Scriptures  exhort  us  in  the  words,  "  Son, 
give  Me  thy  heart." 

Once  more  we  may  well  ask.  How  came  Solo- 


)r  one  hun- 
nto  a  kind 
5  engine  in 
irobs  night 
•utive  days, 
within  our 
5  functions 
d  ten  and 
;rfully,  and 
ilurc"  is  a 
,e  of  sins  as 

;nce  all  the 
are  must  be 
.1  condition. 

The  heart 
rt  ought  to 
the  streams 
n  Him;  all 
ally  it  is  in 
I  immediate 
jvith  the  ut- 

connecting 
the  heart  be 
be  just  and 
ng  can  pro- 
lally.  Well 
ifords,  "  Son, 

i  came  Solo- 


SUGGESTIVE   SCIENTISM  OF  THE  BIBLE.     285 

mon  to  be  so  wise  as  to  anticipate  the  discovery  of 
Harvey '     How  came  Moses  to  be  an  authority  in 
sanitary  science  as  well  as  in  cosmological  knowl- 
edge'     Medical  science  to-day.  in  certain  impor- 
tant respects,  has  not  reached  the  high  point  at- 
tained by  Moses  thousands  of  years  ago.     How 
can  men  explain  these  facts  if  they  deny  the  in- 
spiration of  the  writers  of  Holy  Scripture  ?    These 
are  scientific  facts;  they  are  not  the  speculations 
of  a  pulpit  exegete.     The  time  has  come  when 
atheism  should  be  discreetly  silent,  or  should  hon- 
estly give  glory  to  God,  honor  to  His  Word,  and 
reverence  to  Jesus  Christ  as  the  world's  greatest 
Teacher. 

The  Circle  of  the  Earth. 
In  Isaiahxl.22  wereadi-ItisHethatsit- 
tethuponthecircleoftheearth.   .  .  .  that  stretch 
eth  out  the  heavens  as  a  curtain,  and  spreadeth 
them  out  as  a  tent  to  dwell  in/'     These  are  in- 
structive words  by  the  rapt  prophet  Isaiah^     How 
came  he  to  speak  of  the  circle  of  the  earth?     Let 
us  look  for  a  moment  at  his  meaning  and  at  the 
connection  in  which  his  words  stand.     We  know 
that  in  most  Oriental  countries  it  is  common  to 
have  courts  within  the  houses;  and  we  know  that 
in  those  countries  it  is  not  uncommon  for  streets 
o  be  sheltered  from  the  sun  during  the  hottes 
hours  of  the  day.     A  velum   (veil  or  awning) 
stretched  across  on  ropes  from  wall  to  wall.     This 


286 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


is  the  fact  which  probably  Isaiah  had  in  mind  in 
the  language  which  he  uses  in  the  latter  part  of 
this  verse.     The  firmament  above  is  thought  of 
as  stretched  out,  expanded  over  our  heads,  as  a 
curtain  or  veil,  forming  a  sort  of  tent.     A  similar 
expression  occurs  in  Psalm  civ.  2.     God  is  there 
referred  to  as  stretching  out  the  heavens  like  a  cur- 
tain.    We  know  that  the  houses  of  most  Orientals 
are  constructed  with  a  court  in  the  centre.     Houses 
so  constructed  may  still  be  seen  in  Spain  and  in 
the  countries  which  formerly  were  Spain's  colonies, 
and  in  other  lands.     This  court,  or  open  square, 
has  in  it  fountains  and  flowers.     The  fountains 
splash,  giving  an  air  of  coolness  and  beauty ;  and 
the  flowers  fill  the  space  with  a  perfumed  atmos- 
phere.    Any  one  who  has  visited  some  of  the  best 
hotels  or  homes  in  Spain,  and  who  has  enjoyed  a 
"  siesta  "  in  one  of  these  courts,  will  readily  recall 
the  sweet  picture,  and  will  at  once  see  the  har- 
mony between  these  memories  and  the  suggestions 
of  the  passage  from  Isaiah.     In  the  artificial  cool- 
ness of  these  courts  the  family  sit,  and  when  the 
weather  is  very  hot  or  rainy  an  awning  is  drawn 
over  this  court  area.     So  Isaiah  thought  of  the 
heavens  as  extended  like  a  tent ;  and  here,  in  this 
beautiful  pavilion,  God  had  His  dwelling-place. 

But  special  attention  is  now  called  to  the  first 
part  of  the  verse.  The  Hebrew  literally  meant 
"the  sitter"  or  "he  that  sitteth  on  the  circle  of 
the  earth."     Perhaps  the  thought  goes  back  to  the 


\  mind  in 
er  part  of 
bought  of 
eads,  as  a 

A  similar 
)d  is  tlicre 
like  a  cur- 
;  Orientals 
Houses 
lin  and  in 
's  colonies, 
)en  square, 
!  fountains 
sauty;  and 
ned  atmos- 
of  the  best 

enjoyed  a 
adily  recall 
ee  the  bar- 
iuggestions 
ificial  cool- 
X  when  the 
ig  is  drawn 
ight  of  the 
ere,  in  this 
ng-place. 
to  the  first 
rally  meant 
le  circle  of 

back  to  the 


SUCaESTfl-E   SCfEA'T/S.V  OF    rilE    HIIU.K.     =«? 

twenty-first  verse,  as  if  Isaiah  ha.l  said,  "  Hav-e  ye 
not  known  Him  who  sitteth  on  the  c.rcle  of  the 
earth  >"     The  phrase  beautifully  sets  forth   the 
majesty  and  glory  of  God.     God  is  represented  as 
a  mighty  sovereign  making  the  earth  His  august 
throne.     It    is  of  importance,  then,  in  our  mquiry 
that  we  should  get  a  definite  conception  of  what 
is  meant  by  the  words  "the  circle  of  the  earth 
The  word  translated  circle  properly  means  circle, 
sphere,  or  arch.       In    Proverbs  viii.  27  and  Job 
xxii    14  it  is  translated  with  that  meaning.     ler- 
haps  the  phrase  is  here  used  in  the  sense  of  the 
I  atin  term  orbis  tcrrarum,  referring  to  the  earth 
as  an  extended  plain  surrounded  by  mighty  waters^ 
It  is  not  claimed  in  this  discussion  that   Isaiah 
meant  definitely  to  express    his    belief  that  the 
earth  was  a  sphere.     Perhaps  he  had   no   exact 
knowledge  of  the  earth's  sphericity      Perhaps  he 
held  the  opinion  of  the  majority  of  the  men  of  his 
time,  that  the  earth  was  a  great  plain.     More  than 
once  he  speaks  of  "  the  ends  of  the  earth,     mean- 
ing ^he  earth  itself,  conceived  of  as  a  vast  plain 
having  well-defined  boundaries.      Probably  this 
was  the  prevailing  opinion  among  the  ancients.     It 
is,  however,  here  affirmed  that  Isaiah  used  language 
in  harmony  with  the  idea  of  the  sphericity  of  the 
earth,   and  thus  anticipated  the  discoveries  of  a 
much  later  day;  he  thus  used  language  not  only 
not  opposed  to  these  discoveries,  but  language  ex- 
actly in  harmony  with  these  discoveries.     He  used 


*SSi»:»SloivVe««..'-^»'««'*^'^'^*'''*"' 


288 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


terms  in  which  clearly  lies  the  germ  of  all  these 
scientific  discoveries    and   conclusions.     Suppose 
Isaiah  had  employed  language  which  contradicted 
these  discoveries.     How  all  the  little  infidels  and 
the  puny  agnostics  would  exclaim  in  their  derision 
of  his  ignorance !     Why,  then,  do  they  not  hon- 
estly lift   their  stridulous  voices  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  accuracy  of  his  phraseology  ?     Why 
are  they  not  manly  enough  to  give  him  credit  for 
his    anticipations  of    modern  discoveries?     How 
came  he  to  use  language  so  accordant  with  the  most 
advanced   ideas   of   our   time  on  these   subjects, 
when  the  cosmogonies  of  uninspired  peoples  excite 
only  prolonged  and  well-nigh  uncontrollable  laugh- 
ter?    Whence   did   this    glowing,    rapt,   seraphic 
Hebrew  prophet  derive  this  remarkable  wisdom  ? 
Who  gave  him  such  understanding?     How  came 
he  not  only  to  be  free  from  error  in  his  use  of 
language,  but  to  employ  terms  which  suggest  the 
sublime  truths  of  later  scientific  discovery  ?     There 
again  stands  God. 

The  merit  of  having  first  formed  the  general 
notion  of  the  Copernican  system  seems  to  be  due 
to  Pythagoras,  but  Copernicus  really  has  the  credit 
of  having  again  Jrawn  the  attention  of  philosophers 
to  it  after  the  lapse  of  centuries,  and  of  having  in- 
creased the  probability  of  its  truth  by  his  experi- 
ments and  arguments.  But  the  full  glory  of  hav- 
ing matured  its  sublime  truth  belongs  to  Kepler, 
Galileo,  and  others,  and  especially  to  the  immortal 


i  all  these 
Suppose 
intradicted 
ifidels  and 
ir  derision 
y  not  hon- 
:knowledg- 
gy  ?     Why 
I  credit  for 
les  ?     How 
th  the  most 
!   subjects, 
jples  excite 
able  laugh - 
it,  seraphic 
le  wisdom  ? 
How  came 
his  use  of 
suggest  the 
ry  ?     There 

the  general 
is  to  be  due 
is  the  credit 
)hilosophers 
if  having  in- 
'  his  experi- 
lory  of  hav- 
s  to  Kepler, 
he  immortal 


SUGGESTIVE   SCH-NTISM  OF   THE  miU.E.     289 

Newton.     His  discoveries  connected  with  the  law 
of  gravitation  demonstrated  the  truth  of  the  broader 
laws  of  the  Copernican  system.     Certainly  Isaiah 
knew  nothing  of  Copernicus  and  his  great  discov- 
eries.    The  clergy  in  the  days  of  Copernicus  and 
astronomers  generally,  rejected  his  theories.     How 
came  Isaiah  to  be  wiser  than  the  clergymen  and 
astronomers   of   comparatively   recent   centuries. 
Certainly  Isaiah  knew  nothing  of  the  laws  of  gravi- 
tation as  they  have  been  formulated  by  Sir    saac 
Newton.     Newton   showed   that   the  same  force 
which  causes  a  stone  to  fall  extends  to  the  moon 
and  holds  her  in  her  orbit.     He  showed  tha    the 
planets  tend  to  fall  toward  the  sun,  the  satellites 
toward  the  planets,  and  the  moon  toward  the  earth 
and  that  all  these  tendencies  are  in  harmony  with 
the  law  by  which  an  apple  falls  to  the  ground. 
He  did  not,  indeed,  discover  gravitation,  for  it  was 
known  from  the  earliest  days;  but  he  applied  and 
formulated  the  law  in  harmony  with  these  tenden- 
cies     He  finally  enunciated  the  greatest  law  of 
nature  ever  discovered:    "Every  body  in  nature 
attracts  every  other  body  with  a  force  directly  as 
its  mass,  and  inversely  as  the  square  of  its  dis- 
tance "     These  are  syblime  discoveries  of  com- 
paratively modern  days.     We  fully  recognize  their 
utility  and  rejoice  in  their  sublimity. 

Apart  from  the  beautiful  harmony  between  Isa- 
iah's words  and  the  latest  conclusions  of  modern 
science,  there  is  majesty  in  his  words  in  their 
19 


.  yfiws^soa.'.'ssj^M*^'*''***'- 


20O 


THE   OLD  HOOK. 


relation  to  God.  The  inhabitants  of  the  earth, 
numerous  and  mighty  as  they  are,  he  represents  as 
nothing  compared  with  the  great  God.  The  Ex- 
alted One  is  so  exalted,  so  glorious,  and  so  divine 
that  from  His  lofty  throne  He  looks  down  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  the  world,  busy,  excited  crea- 
tures as  they  often  are,  looks  down  upon  them  as 
if  they  were  interminable  bands  of  locusts  spread 
over  the  vast  plains  of  the  mysterious  and  majestic 
East.  These  are  truly  sublime  descriptions  of 
the  greatness  of  Ciod,  and  striking  conceptions  of 
the  insignificance  of  man.  We  may  well  ask  in 
the  presence  of  such  words,  in  the  language  of  the 
Psalmist,  "What  is  man  that  thou  art  mindful  of 
him.'"  But  we  remember,  also,  in  the  words  of 
the  same  I'.salm,  that  God  has  "made  him  a  little 
lower  than  the  angels,  and  has  crowned  him  with 
glory  and  honor."  Let  all  atheism  be  dumb  in 
the  presence  of  the  great  God!  This  mighty 
Being  is  our  Father,  our  Friend,  our  Redeemer. 
With  bowed  head  and  uplifted  heart  let  us  give 
Him  the  homage  that  is  His  due,  as  Creator,  Pre- 
server, and  Ruler  of  this  great  globe,  as  in  august 
majesty  He  "sitteth  upon  the  circle  of  the  earth." 


f  the  earth, 
cprosents  as 
(1.  The  Ex- 
lul  so  divine 

down  upon 
ixcitcd  crea- 
pon  them  as 
icusts  spread 
and  majestic 
icriptions  of 
inceptions  of 
r  well  ask  in 
guage  of  the 
t  mindful  of 
:hc  words  of 
;  him  a  little 
icd  him  with 
be  dumb  in 
rhis  mighty 
r  Redeemer. 

let  us  give 
Creator,  Pre- 
as  in  august 
)f  the  earth," 


THE  ARTISTIC    INFLUENCE  OF   THE 
BIBLE. 


1 


XVII. 
The  Artistic  Influence  of  the  Bible. 

In  speaking  of  the  relation  between  the  Bible 
and  the  fine  arts,  music,  the  noblest  of  all  the  fine 
arts,  would  naturally  be  included  in  any  category 
that  might  be  given.  But  music  is  so  important 
in  itself,  and  also  in  its  relation  to  the  Bible,  which 
gives  it  celestial  inspiration,  and  to  which  it,  in 
turn,  gives  impressive  expression,  that  an  entire 
chapter  will  be  devoted  to  the  influence  of  the 
Bible  upon  music.  The  thought  in  this  chapter, 
therefore,  will  be  limited,  in  speaking  of  the  artis- 
tic influence  of  the  Bible,  to  painting  and  sculp- 
ture. 

We  can  well  indorse  the  language  of  Cowper  in 
relation  to  painting  when  he  says : 

"  Blest  be  the  art  that  can  immortalize, 
The  art  that  baffles  time's  tyrannic  claims 
To  quench  it." 

We  can  readily  see,  also,  how  great  an  influence 
the  Bible  has  exercised  over  some  of  the  greatest 
masters  of  this  noble  art  in  the  production  of  their 
masterpieces.  A  few  general  remarks,  however, 
on  the  subject  of  painting  as  a  whole,  and  in  illus- 
tration of  the  development  of  this  high  art,  will  be 


:&  i-..lTy4£3l!®.;^*«A=*«6^'>'>"-i-«=^'--'^- 


294 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


in  order.     We  may  define  painting  as  the  act  or 
art  of  representing  on  a  flat  surface  by  n-.oans  of 
lines  and  colors  various  objects,  so  as  to  convey 
ideas  and  excite  emotions.     Ruskin  calls  painting 
a  noble  and  expressive  language,  but  of  itself  noth- 
ing, although  invaluable  as  the  vehicle  of  thought. 
There  must,  therefore,  be  a  valuable  thought  lying 
back  of  the  representation  on  canvas  or  other  ma- 
terial in  order  that  the  representation  itself  may 
be  worthy  of  our  appreciation  or  even  of  our  con- 
sideration.    Some  critics  affirm  that  painting  oc- 
cupies, as   combining  with  light  and  shade  and 
color,  the  chief  place  in  the  fine  arts.     This,  how- 
ever, is  an  estimate  which  a  sober  second  thought 
will  not  indorse.     It  must  be  admitted  that  as 
compared  with  music  and  poetry,  painting  lacks 
the   element    of    movement— an    element   whose 
presence  is  essential  to  the  highest  form  of  art. 
In  its  most  elementary  forms  painting  must  be 
considered  one  of  the  oldest  of  the  arts.     Certainly 
it  is  older  than  writing,  and  it  will  also  be  readily 
acknowledged   that   as   a  vehicle   for   expressing 
thought  in  vivid  and  enduring  forms  it  possesses 
great   advantages   over  writing.     No   description 
can  convey  so  striking  an  impression  as  does  a 
pictorial  representation.     Painting  has  a  great  ad- 
vantage over  many  of  the  arts  in  that  it  is  not 
limited  by  differences  of  language,  but  speaks  in 
more  or  less  forceful  degrees  to  all  nations,  what- 
ever be  their  language  and  whatever  their  degree 


as  the  act  or 
I  by  rr-oans  of 
as  to  convey 
calls  painting 
of  itself  noth- 
le  of  thought, 
thought  lying 
i  or  other  ma- 
ion  itself  may 
;n  of  our  con- 
t  painting  oc- 
nd  shade  and 
5.     This,  how- 
econd  thought 
nitted  that  as 
painting  lacks 
ilement   whose 
it  form  of  art. 
nting  must  be 
rts.     Certainly 
also  be  readily 
for   expressing 
ns  it  possesses 
Mo   description 
sion  as  does  a 
has  a  great  ad- 

that  it  is  not 
,  but  speaks  in 

nations,  what- 
er  their  degree 


THE  AUTISTIC  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  29S 

of  civilization.     Even  the  most  illiterate  can  in- 
terpret, in  some  measure,  the  thought  of  a  picture ; 
those  with  artistically  trained  minds  and  eyes  can, 
of  course,  get  vastly  more  out  of  a  picture  than 
those  lacking  these  qualities.     To  the  unartistic 
it  may  be  little  more  than  so  much  paint  and  can- 
vas, while  to  those  who  are  sympathetic  and  artis- 
tic it  may  represent  the  noblest  thought  even  of 
the  divine  Raphael.     But  the  painting  will  have 
a  language  even  for  those  who  are  entirely  unedu- 
cated.    There  is  no  doubt  but  that  illustrations  in 
the  comic  papers  have  controlled  more  than  one 
Presidential  election.     In  one  noted  case,  at  least, 
one  principal  representation  of  a  Presidential  can- 
didate did  much  toward  securing  his  defeat.     A 
former   "  boss  "  in  New  York  city  feared  the  rep- 
resentations of  these  papers  far  more  than  he  did 
the  most  caustic  editorials  which  the  press  ever 

published. 

Remains  discovered  in  Egypt  show  that  the  ori- 
gin of  painting  is  of  great  antiquity.      As  early  at 
least  as  nineteen  centuries  before  Christ,  the  halls 
and  temples  of  Thebes  were  decorated  by  painting 
and  sculpture.     We  know  that  Ezekiel  prophesied 
about  six  hundred  years  before  Christ,  and  he  re- 
fers to  paintings  in  Jerusalem  in  imitation  of  those 
of  the  Babylonians  and  the  Chaldeans.     Many  ref- 
erences show  that  paintings  of  the  highest  excel- 
lence were  executed  in  Greece  at  a  very  early  date. 
Discoveries  in  the  ruins  of  Pompeii,  where  the  m- 


:tira^«sB»3ry5*^-^*«**i*-*' 


296  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

fluence  of  Greek  art  was  great,  show  the  regard 
paid  in  classic  times  to  the  art  of  painting.  Many 
of  these  remains  reflect  most  damagingly  on  the 
moral  taste  of  the  people  who  were  buried  in  that 
doomed  city ;  but  they  remain  to  this  hour  testify- 
ing alike  to  artistic  skill  and  to  moral  depravity. 
The  chief  schools  were  in  Corinth,  Athens,  and 
Rhodes;  and  the  first  great  artist,  according  to 
high  authority,  of  whose  works  there  is  any  authen- 
tic description,  is  Polygnotus  of  Thasos.  The 
works  of  ApoUodorus  of  Athens,  Zeuxis  his  pupil, 
Eupompus,  Parrhasius,  and  Timanthes,  and  others 
carried  the  art  to  a  high  degree  of  perfection,  and 
made  it  conspicuous  down  to  the  time  of  Philip, 
the  father  of  Alexander  the  Great. 

But  the  greatest  master  of  ancient  painters,  as 
is  well  known  to  all  students  of  this  art,  was  Apel- 
les,  the  son  of  Pythias,  who  probably  was  born  at 
Colophon  on  the  Ionian  coast  of  Asia  Minor,  al- 
though some  authorities  name  other  locations  as 
his  birthplace.     His  ideal  portrait  of  Alexander 
wielding  a  thunderbolt  exercised  no  little  influ- 
ence in  the  development  of  Alexander's  character ; 
this  portrait  was  preserved  in  the  temple  of  Diana 
at  Ephesus.     Alexander  is  reported  to  have  said 
concerning  it :  "  There  are  only  two  Alexanders, 
the  invincible   son  of  Philip  and  the  inimitable 
Alexander  of  Apelles."     He  flourished  in  the  lat- 
ter half  of  the  fourth  century  before  Christ.     His 
contemporary  and  rival  was  Protogenes  of  Rhodes. 


V  the  regard 
ting.  Many 
;ingly  on  the 
uried  in  that 
hour  testify- 
al  depravity. 
Athens,  and 
according  to 
3  any  authen- 
'hasos.  The 
xis  his  pupil, 
s,  and  others 
:rfection,  and 
Tie  of  Philip, 

it  painters,  as 
irt,  was  Apel- 
y  was  born  at 
ia  Minor,  al- 
r  locations  as 
of  Alexander 
3  little  influ- 
;r's  character; 
nple  of  Diana 

to  have  said 
)  Alexanders, 
he  inimitable 
led  in  the  lat- 

Christ.  His 
les  of  Rhodes. 


T//£  ARTISTIC  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  297 

The  Etruscans  followed  the  art  at  a  very  early 
period  in  Italy.     Their  finest  specimens  are  paint- 
ings on  tombs,  and  the  remains  of  armor  and  fic- 
tile ware  ornamented  with  various  figures.     These 
show  the  influence  of  Greek  art  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Etruscan  taste  and  method.     It  is  not  a 
little  remarkable  that  no  great  school  of  classic 
art  flourished  thus  early  in  Rome.     Many  of  the 
chief  adornments  of  Roman  palaces  were  the  work 
of  Greek  artists,  or  Roman  artists  working  under 
the  influence  of  Greek  masters,  as  is  well  known. 
When  the  seat  of  empire  was  carried  to  Byzan- 
tium, the  earlier  art  came  to  be  recognized  as 
Byzantine  art. 

The  influence  of  Christianity  on  painting  came 
to  be  marked  in  Italy  as  early  as  the  thirteenth 
century.     It  was  powerfully  illustrated   in   Ger- 
many, especially  in  the  fourteenth  century.     In  the 
next  century  we  have  the  name  of  Albert  Durer, 
"the  prince  of  artists,"  as  he  has  been  called, 
and  others  entitled  to  fame.     The  English  school 
was  later  in  origin  and  slower  in  development. 
There  has  been  a  distinct  American  school  of  paint- 
ing since  the  year  1825,  when  Thomas  Cole  origina- 
ted what  is  known  as  the  American  school  of  land- 
scape painting.     His  views  on  the  Hudson  find  a 
ready  market,  and  his  allegorical  pieces  are   still 
more  famous.    They  are  well  known  in  America 
and  in  Europe  as  charming  representations  of  natu- 
ral scenery  characterized  by  boldness  and  beauty. 


298 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Biblical  Art. 

We  are  at  present  especially  concerned  with  the 
development  of  Bible  art,  showing  as  it  does  the 
powerful  influence  of  Bible  teaching,  ideals,  and 
inspiration  on  the  minds  of  the  greatest  artists. 
Indeed,  the  greater  the  artist  the  more  conspicu- 
ously does  the  influence  of  the  Bible  appear  in  his 
noblest  compositions.     The  greatest   painters  of 
every  country  show  alike  in  conception  and  execu- 
tion the  influence  of  the  Bible  on  their  master- 
pieces.    Raphael's  cartoons,  Transfiguration  and 
Madonna,  are  sufficient  to  immortalize  him  in  the 
land  of  his  birth  and  throughout  the  civilized  world. 
He  has  been  called  by  his  countrymen  //  Divino — 
"the  divine."     We  can  scarcely  look  at  his  own 
portrait  without  being  impressed  with  the  propriety 
of  this  designation.     The  finest  specimens  of  his 
cartoons  now  in  existence  are  those  at  Hampton 
Court.    They  were  sent  first  to  Flanders^that  they 
might  be  copied  in  tapestry ;  but  the  tapestries  are 
far  inferior  to  the  original  designs.     One  set  of 
these  copies  is  now  in  Rome,  and  the  other  was 
purchased  from  England  and  carried  by  a  Spanish 
ambassador  to  Spain.     The  cartoons  at  Hampton 
Court  were  purchased  by  Rubens  for  King  Charles 
I.     These  cartoons  are  striking  commentaries  on 
important  Scripture  narratives,  and  although  not 
always  entirely  accurate,  are  suggestive  and  strik- 


rned  with  the 
,  it  does  the 
g,  ideals,  and 
;atest  artists, 
ore  conspicu- 
appear  in  his 
t  painters  of 
3n  and  execu- 
their  master- 
iguration  and 
ze  him  in  the 
ivilized  world, 
n  //  Divino — 
ik  at  his  own 
I  the  propriety 
cimens  of  his 
J  at  Hampton 
iers^that  they 

tapestries  are 

One  set  of 

the  other  was 

by  a  Spanish 
5  at  Hampton 

King  Charles 
nmentaries  on 

although  not 
live  and  strik- 


THE  ARTISTIC  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.   =99 

ing.     As  his  Transfiguration  was  his  greatest,  so 
also  it  was  his. last  work.     In  order  that  his  genius 
might  find  its  highest  inspiration,  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  climb  the  Mount  of  Transfiguration  and 
catch  the  heavenly  light  which  fell  upon  Christ 
and  His  disciples.     Raphael  died  on  the  thirty- 
seventh  anniversary  of  his  birthday— that  being  a 
fatal  birthday  with  many  men  of  genius— and  this 
painting,  not  yet  completed,  was  carried   to  his 
grave  at  his  burial.     It  represents  Christ  soaring 
above  the  earth  and  swimming  in  glory,  Moses 
with  the  tables  of  the  law  on  one  side,  Elijah  on 
the  other;  and  the  three  disciples,  just  aroused 
from  sleep,  partly  blinded  by  the  dazzling  light, 
are  at  their  feet.    The  painting  has  been  criticised 
because  it  represents  the  maniacal  boy  and  his 
troubled  father  with  the  disciples  on  the  moun- 
tain-side.    The  point  of  the  criticism  is  that  this 
scene  was  distant  in  time  and  place  from  the  trans- 
figuration.    But  the  union  of  the  two  is  an  illus- 
tration of  remarkable  genius  on  the  part  of  Raphael. 
He  did  not  wish  to  leave  the  side  of  the  mountain 
unoccupied  and  barren,  and  he  wished  also  and 
chiefly  to  teach  that  the  disciples  had  a  duty  in  the 
plain  below  in  healing  the  lunatic  boy  after  they 
had  received  ti-ansfiguration  blessings  on  the  moun- 
tain above. 

In  this  Bible  gallery  we  must,  of  course,  see 
Michael  Angelo's  "  Last  Judgment."  This  is  a 
work  of  resistless  power.     Its  solemn  teaching  no 


300 


TH6.  OLD  BOOK'. 


beholder  can  entirely  resist.     Angelo,  when  in  the 
zenith  of   his   power,  was   almost   unrivalled   as 
painter,  sculptor,  and  architect.     He  might  have 
been  famous  in  either  of  these  great  arts,  and  m 
the  union  of  the  three  he  possessed  an  unapproach- 
able fame.     He  was  as  lofty  in  genius  as  he  was 
noble  in  origin.     This  great  picture  of  "  The  Last 
Judgment"  was  painted  for  the  hall  of  the  Sist.ne 
Chapel  in  Rome.     This  colossal  fresco  is  nearly 
seventy  feet  in  height,  and  in  its  production  he 
surpassed  all  his  former  works,  alike  in  his  power 
of  invention  and  his  consummate  knowledge  of  the 
human  form  divine.    But  for  the  inspiration  of  the 
Bible  this  great  work  would  have  been  an  utter 
impossibility.     Neither  can  we  be  indifferent  to 
Correggio's  "  Notte  "-Night.     The  charm  in  this 
remarkable  picture  is  that  it  represents  the  light 
as  raying  out  from  the  Child  fesus;  the  entire 
scene   is   lighted  only  by  the  celestial  splendor 
beaming  from  the  head  of  the  infant  Redeemer. 

In  this  gallery  of  Bible  paintings  we  cannot  pass 

over  Guido  Reni's  "  Crucifi.xion. "     This  is  in  the 

church  of  San  Lorenzo  in  Rome.     It  represents 

fervent  spiritualism,  and  fixes  indelibly  upon  the 

mind  of  the  beholder  this  most  awful  scene  in  the 

life  of  our  divine  Lord.     Carlo  Dolce's  "  Christ 

Blessing  the  Bread  and  Wine"  and  "Christ  on 

the  Mount  of  Olives"  bring  our  Lord  before  us 

in  blended  human  tenderness  and  divine  majesty. 

This  painter  was  filled  with  the  thought  of  Christ  s 


when  in  the 
nrivalled   as 
might  have 
arts,  and  in 
unapproach- 
us  as  he  was 
)f  "  The  Last 
)f  the  Sistine 
SCO  is  nearly 
)roduction  he 
:  in  his  power 
iwlcdge  of  the 
jiration  of  the 
)ecn  an  utter 
indifferent  to 
charm  in  this 
icnts  the  light 
is;  the  entire 
stial  splendor 
;  Redeemer, 
ive  cannot  pass 
This  is  in  the 
It  represents 
;libly  upon  the 
ul  scene  in  the 
)olce's  "  Christ 
nd  "  Christ  on 
Lord  before  us 
divine  majesty, 
aght  of  Christ's 


THE  ARTISTIC  mPLUENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE,  jot 
tenderness  and  love,  and  that  characteristic  appears 
in  all  his  works.     No  one  who  has  ever  seen  Mu- 
rillo's  •'  Moses  Striking  the  Rock,"  "  Abraham  and 
the  Angels,"  and  especially  his  famous  "  Immacu- 
late Conception"  can  ever  forget  the  vision  of  his 
artistic  genius.     He  was  born  at  Seville,  Spain, 
and  in  the   Royal   Gallery   in   Madrid    no  fewer 
than  sixty-one  of  his  famous  works  are  exhibited, 
and  one  hundred  and  five  of  his  paintings  are  in 
galleries  in  London.     The  "  Immaculate  Concep- 
tion "  is  now  in  the  Louvre,  it  having  been  bought 
in  1852  for  $120,000.  _ 

Rubens'  "  Descent  from  the  Cross      fixes  tor- 
ever  in  the  mind  of  every  beholder  that  sad  scene. 
He  was  one  of  the  greatest  of  Flemish  painters 
and    is  the  acknowledged   head  of    the   Flemish 
school     He  combines  energetic  action  with  breadth 
of  thought  and  brilliancy  of  color  to  a  remarkable    • 
and  harmonious  degree.     It  is  not  necessary  to 
speak  at    length  of  Da  Vinci's  "  Last  Supper, 
painted  in  oil  on  the  wall   of   the  refectory  m 
Milan,  of  Titian's  "Tribute  Money."  Tintoretto  s 
«  Crucifixion,"  West's  "  Death  on  the  Pale  Horse,^ 
"  Christ  Healing  the  Sick."  Martin's  "  Belshazzar  s 
Feast."    Eastlake's    "Lament   over    Jerusalem 
Holman   Hunt's  "  Light  of  the  World."   Dor6  s 
"Christ  Leaving  the  Pretorium."   Ary  Scheffer  s 
"  Christ  Rearing  His  Cross,"  "  Christ  the  Conso- 
lator  "  and  "  Christ  the  Remunerator."  nor  of  the 
wonderful  series  of  paintings  by  Tissot  recently 


30a 


THE  OLD  HOOK. 


exhibited  in  America.  Benjamin  West,  of  whom 
mention  has  just  been  made,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, of  Quaker  jiarcntage.  He  was  the  first 
American  artist  ever  seen  in  Italy,  and  he  natu- 
rally attracted  much  attention.  He  was  buried  in 
London  in  1820,  with  great  pomp,  in  St.  Paul's 
cathedral. 

The  fact  is  that  the  Bible  is  greatly  honored  in 
the  greatest   picture  galleries  of   the  world.     It 
would  be  quite  impossible  to  understand  many  of 
the  noblest  productions  of  human  genius  were  we 
not  familiar  with  the  Bible  narrative.    The  Bible 
gave  these  men  their  inspiration.     It  placed  before 
them  their  high  ideals,  and  drawn  by  artistic  gen- 
ius combined  with  spiritual  emotion  these  artists 
wrought,  embodying   their   highest   thought,  and 
crowning  the  Christ  of  God  with  honor  and  glory.. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  William  Bowyer,  an 
eminent    English    printer   and   classical   scholar, 
spent  thirty  years  of  his  life  in  illustrating  the 
Bible.     He  procured  engravings  and  other  draw- 
ings referring  to  Bible  subjects,  and  interleaved 
them   in   an  edition  of  the  Bible.     Mr.  Walters 
tells  us  that  the  work  extended  to  forty-seven  vol- 
umes and  embraced  seven  thousand  subjects.     Mr. 
Bowyer,  who  was  nominated  Printer  of  the  Rolls 
of  the  House  of  Lords,  died  in  1777,  having  spent 
much  of  his  later  leisure  hours  in  the  delightful 
occupation  of  showing  how  art  has  drawn  its  inspi- 
ration from  the  Bible,  and  how  it  has  honored  the 


.-^jP,,^y,tfj.j-t^;>afe^'^Tfai>t]-|»!»WIW 


/est,  of  whom 

)orn  in  Pcnn- 

:  was  the  first 

and  he  natu- 

was  buried  in 

in  St.  Paul's 

tly  honored  in 
he  world.  It 
stand  many  of 
;enius  were  we 
e.  The  liible 
:  placed  before 
)y  artistic  gen- 
1  these  artists 

thought,  and 
inor  and  glory., 
im  Bowyer,  an 
ssical  scholar, 
llustrating  the 
nd  other  draw- 
ind  interleaved 
Mr.  Walters 
orty-seven  vol- 

subjects.  Mr. 
er  of  the  Rolls 
7,  having  spent 

the  delightful 
Irawn  its  inspi- 
las  honored  the 


THE  ARTISTIC  INFLUENCE  OF  THE  HUU.E.  iOi 

liible  with  the  divinest  illustrations  of  its  noblest 
genius.  (Ireat  painters  have  evermore  seen  how 
their  art  is  made  immortal  by  drawing  their  sub- 
jects of  inspiration  from  the  Holy  Hook.  It  is 
marvellous  that  many  students  of  art  admire  the 
artistic  stream,  while  they  affect  to  despise  the 
Bible  as  the  artistic  fountain  whence  these  streams 
have  flowed. 

A  much  longer  list  of  great  painters  might  be 
given,  all  of  whom  have  drawn  their  subjects  from, 
and  ever  found  their  ideals  in  the  word  of  God. 
But  the  list  given  is  sufficient  to  show  the  power- 
ful influence  exercised  by  the  Bible  on  one  of  the 
noblest  arts  of  ancient  or  modern  life. 

Sculpture  and  the  Bible. 

Painting  and  sculpture  arc  sister  arts.  They 
are  closely  related  in  origin,  atmosphere,  inspira- 
tion, and  achievement.  They  are  worthy  of  being 
placed  side  by  side  in  this  discussion,  as  both 
so  largely  draw  their  inspiration  from  the  Bible. 
Greece  in  the  palmy  days  of  its  classic  fame  exer- 
cised a  remarkable  influence  on  the  development 
of  sculpture  in  all  succeeding  ages.  It  is  frankly 
admitted  that  the  Bible  did  not  exercise  so  great 
an  influence  on  scultpure  as  on  painting;  for  the 
influence  of  Greek  ideals  has  been  felt  on  sculp- 
ture as  related  to  Christian  art.  The  Greeks  ex- 
celled in  producing  in  marble  the  human  form. 


vISW^ttii-B^i*;* 


304 


THE  01  n  ROOK. 


and  no  other  nation  has  ever  been  able  even  to 
approximate  their  hiRhcst  achievements.     Greece 
made  the  most  careful  studios  in  this  respect  ever 
made  by  any  nation.     Mer  whole  social   system 
tended  to  the  development  of  physical   strength 
and  beauty.     The  aim  of  her  social  and  medical 
science  was  not  to  restore  to  health  and  strength 
feeble  children;  they  were  permitted   to  die  in 
order  that  only  the  strongest  and  finest  might  sur- 
vive.    God  made  the  Greeks  great  sculptors  sim- 
ply under  the  inspiration  of  nature ;  but  any  stu- 
dent of   the  art  can  discover  that   these  classic 
artists  fail  in  giving  to  their  work  the  loftiest  sen- 
timent, as  Christian  ideals  have  ennobled  that  sen- 
timent.    The  Greeks  had  a  fine  eye  and  a  deft  hand 
for  physicral  beauty,  with  an  exquisite  appreciation 
for  all  its  sensuous  charms.     Their  figures  seem 
almost  to  breathe  the  breath  of  life.     The  story  of 
Pygmalion  and  his  bride  is  scarcely  a  myth.     This 
legendary  king  and  celebrated  statuary  of  Cyprus 
might  almost  be  considered,  in  the  fable  which 
gives  life  to  the  beautiful  ivory  statue  of  a  maiden 
which  he  had  made,  as  being  but  the  incarnation 
of  the  perfection  of  Grecian  art.     But  that  art  had 
no  high   moral  feeling;   it  ministered  chiefly  to 
voluptuous  desire.     It  did  not  exalt  the  soul  with 
noble  ideas  of  moral  purity  and  goodness.      It  is 
doubtful  whether  the  Greeks  in  this  regard  were 
in  any  degree  in  advance  of  the  people  of  Nine- 
veh, Egypt,  and  other  great  nations  of  antiquity 


ij.j»iB^rti«»sf!*^:£»*J=«^"  -S«;s««*-OT^ 


xble  even  to 
nts.  Greece 
respect  ever 
ocial  system 
ical  strength 
and  medical 
and  strength 
id  to  die  in 
St  might  sur- 
culptors  sim- 

but  any  stu- 
these  classic 
;  loftiest  sen 
bled  that  sen- 
id  a  deft  hand 
;  appreciation 
•  figures  seem 

The  story  of 
I  myth.  This 
ary  of  Cyprus 
;  fable  which 
le  of  a  maiden 
le  incarnation 
It  that  art  had 
red  chiefly  to 
the  soul  with 
Ddness.  It  is 
s  regard  were 
;ople  of  Nine- 
s  of  antiquity 


r///-:  /tA'r/sr/c  ixfluknce  of  Ttrr  Pini.E.  305 

who  made  remarkable  progress  in  sculpu*  c  Art 
was  not  associated  with  religion  or  morals.  Gff-rit 
as  were  Phidias  and  Praxiteles,  they  needed  the 
refining  and  elevating  atmosphere  in  which  An- 
gelo  and  Canova  did  their  noble  work  and  won 
their  enduring  fame. 

When  the  immortal  sculptors  turned  aside  from 
classic  models,  they  went  to  the  Bible  for  their 
subjects  and  their  ideals.     We  now  enter  upon  a 
new  era  in  the  history  and  influence  of  sculpture; 
we  now  come  to  the  great  enn(>blement  of  this 
exalted   art.      We   now   sec  that   sculpture    has 
spiritual  and  moral  beauty,  such  as  it  never  had 
in  the  days  of   its  highest  classical  attainment. 
Let  us  enter  this  hall  of  Biblical  sculpture.     We 
behold  at  once  Ghiberti's  -  Sacrifice  of  Isaac  "  and 
also  his  "Gates  of   Paradise."     Michael   Angelo 
gave  Ghiberti  the  noble  tribute  of  admiration  re- 
garding the  gates  to  the  baptistery  of  Florence  by 
saying  that  they  were  worthy  of  paradise.     We 
have  here  also   Donatello's   "  St.   Peter  and   St. 
Mark,"    Angelo's    immortal    "Moses,"    Canova's 
"  Penitent  Magdalen,"  and  Thorwaldsen  s  •  Christ 
and  the  Apostles. "     Without  doubt  Thorwaldsen 
was  one  of  the  greatest  of  modern  sculptors ;  with- 
out education  to  any  great  degree,  he  won  by  his 
artistic  genius  the  enthusiastic  indorsement  of  the 
ablest  artists  of  his  day  and  a  royal  reception  in 
Copenhagen,  as  well  as  the  affection  of  his  nation 
and  of  lovers  of  art  throughout  the  world.     He 
20 


?itt,.se««fci'*»B<*=J'  -SS^i^**"- 


3o6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


was  moved  by  Christian  ideals,  and  his  whole  soul 
responded  to  the  exaltation  with  which  those  ideals 
enabled  him  to  conceive  and  to  execute  his  immor- 
tal works. 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  illustrations 
which  can  readily  be  given  of  how  the  Bible  has 
influenced  sculptors  and  painters  of  the  loftiest 
genius.     We  see  at  every  instance  the  refining, 
ennobling,  and  sweetening  influence  of  the  Word 
of  God  and  the  life  of  Christ  on  the  minds  and 
hearts  of  these   sons  of   genius,  these  disciples 
of  art  and  masters  of  fame.     Their  noblest  inspi- 
rations came  from  the  presence  of  Christ  in  their 
work.     The  Bible  was  their  most  valuable  and 
valued  text-book ;  and  at  the  feet  of  Jesus  Christ 
they  laid  their  highest  artistic  wreaths  of  triumph. 
In  all  departments  of  human  effort  the  noblest 
genius  should  be  stimulated  to  its  highest  and 
divinest  work  as  it  finds  its  inspiration  in  the 
school  of  Jesus  Christ.     It  is  difficult  to  speak 
with  patience  of  the  shallow  critics  of  the  Bible 
who  are  enraptured  over  the  charms  of  artistic 
genius,  but  who  deny  to  this  book  the  honor  of 
having  given  subjects,  ideals,   patience,  motive, 
and  inspiration  to  the  immortal  artists  in  all  Chris- 
tian lands  and  times. 


■  •if'S^  l^.i;r«lf»;OJ.1 


^.<f.--:-ii:i(^-  --    .--vC'b,'ir:^--.»'*X.T!li;<!*^V:^^'iX44;=^i'543-fet5atv- 


K. 

and  his  whole  soul 
I  which  those  ideals 
execute  his  immor- 

i  many  illustrations 

how  the  Bible  has 
ters  of  the  loftiest 
itance  the  refining, 
uence  of  the  Word 
;  on  the  minds  and 
.us,  these  disciples 
Their  noblest  inspi- 
j  of  Christ  in  their 

most  valuable  and 
feet  of  Jesus  Christ 
wreaths  of  triumph. 
I  effort  the  noblest 

to  its  highest  and 
i  inspiration  in  the 
s  difficult  to  speak 

critics  of  the  Bible 
;  charms  of  artistic 
\  book  the  honor  of 
i,  patience,  motive, 
1  artists  in  all  Chris- 


THE    MUSICAL    INSPIRATION    OF   THE 
BIBLE. 


-  --■-.-— •■,W^J-|-fia:-3*t'"%!t«fc^'-'i4SJfe* 


^..  .=^^Srfa^=(-«^.fiS?!»PWK- . 


XVIII. 

The  Musical  Inspiration  of  the  Bible. 
Among  all  nations,  ancient  and  modem,  civil- 
ized and  barbarous,  music  in  one  form  or  another 
has  been  greatly   honored.     Music  is  the  art  or 
process. of  arranging  tones  into  forms  of  beauty 
in  harmony  with  recognized  laws  of  combination 
We  are  able  accurately  to  trace  its  historic  devel- 
opment as  probably  the  chief  of  the  fine  arts;  and 
we  are  now  able  also  to  master  the  abundant  mate- 
rials necessary  for  a  science  of  music.     Much  is 
known  about  the  laws  of  musical  composition  and 
performance.     These  foundation  principles  have 
been  accurately  defined  and  have  been  logically 
arranged.     There  are  physical  materials  with  in- 
tricate laws,  as  well  as  psychological  processes,  in- 
volved in  the  performance  of  music.    Few  sciences 
are  more  interesting,  instructive,  and  f^sc-ating 
than  the  science  of  music.     Music  ought  to  be 
l^h  more  generally  cultivated  alike  for  its  phy. 
ical,  intellectual,  and  moral  advantages,  than  is 
common  in  public  or  private  schools  -any jun 
try      Cogent  reasons  could  be  given  why  music  as 
a  branch  of  juvenile  education  should  be  constancy 
practised.     Continuous  instruction  m  vocal  music 


;i,.^Si**s#:i*s*p«?!=»n^'^;«* 


3IO 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


would   prove  an  extremely  important  branch  of 
general  as  well  as  of  special  education.     It  is  un- 
fortunate that  music  has  so  often  been  considered 
as  ministering  chiefly  to  the  gratification  of  those 
whose  lives  are  spent  in  mere  social  enjoyment. 
We  have  for  this  reason  often  failed  rightly  to  ap- 
preciate its  direct  power  as  evoking  and  expressing 
the  noblest  emotions.     With  the  advance  of  the 
science  of  sociology,  we  may  well  believe  that  mu- 
sic will  come  to  have  a  much  larger  and  more  hon- 
ored place  in  the  development  and  application  of 
the  fine  arts  than  it  has  had  in  the  past.     No  one 
can  deny  that  many  of  the  loftiest  musical  impulses 
are  due  to  deep  religious  experience;  this  experi- 
ence seeks  for  proper  utterance,  and  it  finds  music 
to  be  the  most  expressive  vehicle  of  the  noblest 
religious  emotions,  as  well  as  the  highest  intellec- 
tual activities.     It  is  on  this  account  that  Church 
music  has  been    so   generally  appreciated  as  a 
branch  of  liturgies,  as  well  as  a  true  expression  of 
religious  emotion  in  public  worship. 

Music,  in  its  historical  development,  has  had 
its  barbarous  age,  and  also  its  transitional  period, 
and  it  now  has  reached  the  artistic  stage  in  its 
development.  In  this  present  era  both  the  science 
and  the  technique  of  the  art  have  made  sufficient 
progress  to  enable  us  accurately  to  prophesy  as  to 
the  sublime  achievements  of  musical  art  in  the 
near  future.  We  all  know  that  all  nations  have 
a  fondness  for  rhythmical  sounds  as  well  as  rhyth- 


;.;,^:«E  ".  t-,a»ilJP:.VJ*#-t^;^fc*^'*»-«»W.i«?<^K»*^i  *<'SU'*««^^ 


ant  branch  of 
on.     It  is  un- 
een  considered 
ation  of  those 
ial  enjoyment. 
i  rightly  to  ap- 
and  expressing 
idvance  of  the 
jlieve  that  mu- 
and  more  hon- 
1  application  of 
past.     No  one 
usical  impulses 
e;  this  experi- 
1  it  finds  music 
of  the  noblest 
ighest  intellec- 
nt  that  Church 
predated  as  a 
le  expression  of 

»ment,  has  had 
sitional  period, 
:ic  stage  in  its 
joth  the  science 
made  sufficient 
prophesy  as  to 
iical  art  in  the 
ill  nations  have 
LS  well  as  rhyth- 


MUSICAL  IXSPIRATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.    3" 

mical  movements;   as  a  result   we  have  dances, 
rhythmical  speech,  and  harmonious  sounds.     Both 
the  Hebrews  and  the  Greeks  and  all  the  nations 
of  the  Orient  have  contributed  something  toward 
the  development  of  musical  science.     The  intro- 
duction of  Christianity  could  not  be  without  its 
influence  on  the  development  of  music.    The  Mid 
die  Ages  in  Germany,  Holland,  and  Italy  gave  us 
striking  examples  of  the  influence  of  Christianity 
in  the  development  of  religious  thought,  taking  its 
color  and  form  from  national  characteristics.     In 
the  sixteenth  century  a  great  revolution  in  music 
was  contemporaneous  with  the  Lutheran  Reforma- 
tion.    In  the  seventeenth  century  marked  progress 
was  observed  in  musical  development  in  most  parts 
of  Europe.    German  music,  as  was  to  be  expected, 
was  principally  concerned  in  adapting  its  special 
features  to  the  spirit  of  the  religious  reformation 
of  which  Luther  was  the  great  leader.     There  is 
not  space,  however,  here  to  trace  the  influence  of 
Christianity  in  the  development  of  musical  art  in 
different  countries,  through  the  mediaeval  and  later 

centuries. 

The  psalm-singing  of  the  Puritans  was  one  of 
the  powerful  influences  in  the  development  of 
music  in  the  United  States.  The  story  is  as 
quaint  as  it  is  suggestive,  both  religiously  and 
musically,  showing  the  discussions  had  by  many 
earnest  Puritans  regarding  what  was  permissible 
in  public  service.     There  were  great  differences 


,»iff}^-*?-A*(iiil«»Jta*»:«.»i^ ', 


3»: 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


of  opinion  as  to  whether  it  was  proper  for  only 
one  to  sing  while  all  the  rest  joined  only  in  spirit, 
saying  "Amen"   at  the  close  of  the  song;  and 
whether  women  as  well  as  men  should  be  per- 
mitted to  take  part  in  the  public  services  of  song, 
and  especially  whether  the   unconverted   should 
be  permitted  to  sing  at  all  in  religious  worship. 
There  was  grave  discussion  also  as  to  whether  it 
was  lawful  to  sing  psalms  in  metre  devised  by 
men,  and  whether  it  was  permissible  to  learn  new 
tunes,  the  old  tunes  having  become  authoritative, 
as  if  they  were  inspired  of  God.     Recent  revival 
movements  have  given  rise  to  new  conceptions  re- 
garding church  music,  in  the  United  States  as  well 
as  in  Great  Britain.     But  we  may  rest  assured  that 
the  noble  compositions  which  are  embodiments  of 
the  highest  forms  of  musical  art  and  of  religious 
devotion  and  emotion  will  never  lose  their  hold 
in  the  religious  services  of  cultured  and  conse- 
crated Christian  people. 

Music  and  Religion. 

Luther  said,  "  Music  is  the  heart  of  the  proph- 
ets"; and  in  so  saying,  Luther  uttered  a  great 
truth.  All  true  prophets  are  also  to  some  degree 
great  poets;  and  all  great  poets  are  in  some  meas- 
ure great  musicians.  Certainly  music  is  one  of 
the  noblest  gifts  which  God  has  bestowed  upon 
men;  but  music  only  rises  to  its  highest  point 


^.-ii^K^^30!^^^-^'^a»>--^^'*»^'"^'^"'^"^ 


*^Vrft*^**«S^«*  »^  *  —  "^ 


proper  for  only 
;d  only  in  spirit, 
the  song;  and 
should  be  per- 
services  of  song, 
onverted   should 
eligious  worship, 
as  to  whether  it 
netre  devised  by 
ible  to  learn  new 
me  authoritative, 
Recent  revival 
AT  conceptions  re- 
ted  States  as  well 
r  rest  assured  that 
2  embodiments  of 
:  and  of  religious 
;r  lose  their  hold 
Itured  and  conse- 


ilON. 

eart  of  the  proph- 
ir  uttered  a  great 
Iso  to  some  degree 
are  in  some  meas- 
y  music  is  one  of 
las  bestowed  upon 
1  its  highest  point 


MUSICAL  INSPIRATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.    3«3 

When  it  is  inspired  by  deep  religious  devotion^ 
Nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  the  operettas  of 
the  hour  are  only  for  the  hour.     They  do  not  pos- 
sess  the  true  elements  of  endurance;  these  ele- 
ments are  found  only  in  musical  compositions  that 
are  imbued  with  the  religious  spirit.     The  same 
remark  applies   to  all  forms  of  literature.     All 
great  classic   poems,  tragedies,  and  dramas  are 
really  religious.     They  embody  the  deepest  relig- 
ious experiences  and  emotions  of  which  their  au- 
thors were  possessed.     We  may  say  that  the  great 
classic  authors  were  heathen;    the  statement  is 
true      Nevertheless  they  wrought  under  the  influ- 
ence of  a  religious  inspiration ;  and  that  inspiration 
has  given  immortality  to  these  great  dramas  and 
tragedies.     The    profound  questions  which   have 
been  discussed  by  Christian  authors  were  in  their 
essence  discussed  by  these  tragedians  and  drama- 
tists.    A  moment's  thought  will  show  that  at  heart 
many  problems  of  Christian  theology  are  closely 
related  to  the  subjects  of  these  great  dramas  and 
tragedies.     They  were  often  attempts  to  discover 
the  deep  things  of  God,  or  to  justify  the  ways  of 
God  with  men.     It  has  been  finely  said  that- 

"  Devotion  borrows  music's  tone, 
And  music  takes  devotion's  wing  ; 
And  like  a  bird  that  hails  the  sun. 

They  soar  to  heaven,  and  soaring  sing. 

To  the  Bible  we  are  indebted  for  many  of  the 
greatest  musical  compositions  the  ablest  musical 


3M 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


geniuses  have  yet  given  to  the  world.     No  one 
can  lay  the  slightest  claim  to  musical  knowledge, 
or  to  the  possession  of  musical  taste,  who  has  not 
seen  and  admitted  the  powerful  influence  of  the 
Bible  in  its  thought  and  emotion,  in  the  devel- 
opment of  musical  sounds.     Ambrose,  bishop  of 
Milan  in  the  fourth    century,  invented  what   is 
known  as  the  Ambrosian  Chant.     This  chant  was 
founded  on  the  first  four  "  authentic  modes  "  of  the 
ancient  Greeks,  and  was  sung  antiphonally.     It 
continued  until  the  close  of  the  century,  when  the 
Gregorian  chants  were  introduced.     To  the  Bible 
we  are   indebted   for  the  development  of  these 
chants  or  tones,  with  all  their  choral  melodies  and 
their  profound  influence  in  the  development  of 
musical  taste  and  Christian  life.     To  the  Bible 
also  we  are  indebted  for  the  Kyries  and  Sanctnses. 
The  Kyrie  is  a  form  of  prayer  which  occurs  in  all 
the  ancient  Greek  liturgies.     All  who  have  heard 
the  services  of  the  Greek  Church  in  Russia  will 
remember  the  almost  resistless  influence  of  this 
part  of  the  service,  sung  in  its  melodious  mono- 
tone by  the  men  in  the  choirs  of  the  Greek  Church. 
We  know  also  it  is  to  the  Bible  we  are  so  pro- 
foundly indebted  for  the  great   TV  Deims  which 
have  place  still  in  books  of  service  and  in  the  wor- 
ship of  so  many  churches.     One  cannot  think  of 
the   TV  Deutn  Laudantus,  sung  on  so  many  occa- 
sions of  triumph  and  thanksgiving,  without  pro- 
found emotion.      This   is   certainly   one  of   the 


'^*^CB«2S«Wi--*-»~».fcX>«M»;**».*'*"'*^"l*M-'''^^ 


ias«««««iii»W*«S!IS«S«15K».5S««*««*M*''«'«**'*'''-^ 


rid.     No  one 
il  knowledge, 
,  who  has  not 
luence  of  the 
in  the  devel- 
)se,  bishop  of 
nted  what   is 
his  chant  was 
nodes  "  of  the 
iphonally.     It 
ury,  when  the 
To  the  Bible 
lent  of  these 
[  melodies  and 
jvelopment  of 
To  the  Bible 
and  SanciHses. 
h  occurs  in  all 
ho  have  heard 
in  Russia  will 
fluence  of  this 
lodious  mono- 
Greek  Church, 
ire  are  so  pro- 
Dentns  which 
ind  in  the  wor- 
annot  think  of 
so  many  occa- 
j,  without  pro- 
ly   one   of   the 


MUSICAL  INSPIRATION  OF  THE  BIB  I.E.    31 S 

noblest  productions  of  uninspired  men  ever  used 
in  religious  worship.     Its  authorship  is  uncertain. 
There  are  well-founded  traditions  which  describe 
it  as  the  joint  production  of  Ambrose  and  Au- 
gustine, on  the  occasion  of  the  baptism  of  Au- 
gustine by  Ambrose.     It  is  said  that  it  was  chanted 
as  Augustine  was  coming  forth  from  the  water,  he 
and  Ambrose  bursting  forth  in  this  glorious  song 
by  a  common  inspiration.     From  this  supposed  ori- 
gin the  Te  Dam  is  often  called  the  Ambrosian 
hymn.     Christians  of  all  names  and  creeds  have 
joyously  joined  in  chanting  this  glorious  produc- 
tion of  sanctified  musical  genius. 

Later  Musical  Productions. 
To  the  Bible  we  are  also  indebted  for  the  grand 
chorals  of  Sebastian  Bach,  who  was  born  in  Eisen- 
ach, 1685,  and  who  died  in  Leipsic,  1750.     It  is 
stated  on  high  musical  authority  that  excepting 
Handel.  Bach  had  no  rival  as  an  organist.     It  is  true 
of  him  as  of  Handel,  that  his  great  religious  works 
are  his  immortal  monument  in  the  history  of  music. 
He  belonged  to  a  transition  period ;  "  standing  be- 
tween the  polyphonic  music  written  in  the  contra- 
puntal and  imitative  style,  and  the  harmonic  music 
of  definite  tonality,  his  name  is  at  the  head  of  the 
German  school,  and  he  is  sometimes  called  '  the 
musician's  musician.'  "     His  great  works  include 
the  four  settings  of  the  "Passion,"  the  "Christ- 
mas Oratorio,"  the  "Easter  Oratorio."  and  the 


}^gfgi;t^^jSKi^£ttiiiili3**- 


3iC) 


T!TF.   OLD  ROOK. 


"  Magnificat,"  and  almost  innumerable  Scriptural 
cantatas  for  Sundays  and  fast  days.  He  has  given 
us  a  collection  of  fugues  to  display  his  knowledge 
of  counterpoint.  But  for  his  religious  faith  we 
should  never  have  had    this  superlative  musical 

genius.  ,     ,     u 

A  similar  remark  will  apply  to  Handel,  who  has 
•  given  us  "  Israel  in  Egypt,"  "  Samson,"  "  Saul," 
and  especially  the  "Messiah."     Though  a  native 
of  Germany.  Handel  spent  so  large  a  portion  of 
his  life  in  England  that  Britain  may  almost  claim 
him  as  one  of  her  own  sons.     It  was  in  England 
that  he   composed   many  of  his  greatest  works. 
Becoming  discouraged    by  the  attempt   to  give 
opera  in   London   in  a  foreign  language,  having 
lost  many  thousands  of  pounds  in  the  effort,  he 
left  in  1 741  for  Dublin.     A  friend  gave  him  some 
passages  of  Scripture,  as  he  was  starting  on  his 
journey,  as  the  text  for  a  great  oratori..  t  on  these 
he   composed    his   "Messiah,"    which   was    first 
known  as  the  "  Sacred  Oratorio."     It  was  pro- 
duced in  that  city  first  for  charitable  purposes.     It 
has  since  given  him  fame  throughout  the  civilized 
world      Parts  of  it  were  composed  in  the  deepest 
conceivable  religious  spirit.     Tears  mingled  with 
the  ink  as  some  of  its  notes  were  written.     He 
himself  has  told  us  that  in  writing  its  glorious 
Hallelujah  Chorus  he  seemed  to  see  the  great  God 
in  whose  presence  he  felt  himself  to  be  standing 
Parts  of  it  so  stir  one's  religious  emotions,  as  well 


*  t  «a)=<s«5.8ri**>5^«6&^*«»' 


■a«««i«ii»«0««S»^.»*<»*****"*'*" 


.«-JI»sS»eHK»fe>*^««'**'-*i"»*^^'"***''- 


,IR««!i«iSlli>»**««»**" 


Table  Scriptural 
He  has  given 
y  his  knowledge 
ligious  faith  wo 
lerlative  musical 

Handel,  who  has 
amson,"  "  Saul," 
Though  a  native 
rge  a  portion  of 
nay  almost  claim 
was  in  England 
greatest  works, 
attempt    to  give 
language,  having 
in  the  effort,  he 
id  gave  him  some 
s  starting  on  his 
aratoriv  •  on  these 
which   was    first 
0."     It  was  pro- 
able  purposes.     It 
;hout  the  civilized 
sed  in  the  deepest 
ears  mingled  with 
vere  written.     He 
riting  its  glorious 
.  see  the  great  God 
elf  to  be  standing. 
s  emotions,  as  well 


MirsiCAL  lySPfRATlO.V  OF  THE  BiniE.    3' 7 

as  charm  one's  musical  taste,  as  to  suggest  the 
idea  that  if  heaven  have  anything  musically  finer, 
we  must  have  a  development  of  endurance,  else  the 
joy  of  the  heavenly  scene  would  consume  us  with 
its  rapturous  delight.     Blind  as  he  was.  he  still 
composed  his  matchless  music,  and  being  led  to 
his  seat  at  the  organ,  played  it  in  the  midst  of  the 
plaudits  of   his    delighted   audiences.     On  Good 
Friday.  April   13.  i759.  he  died,  as  he  said      in 
hopes  of  meeting  his  good  God,  his  sweet  Lord 
and   Saviour,  on   the   day  of    his   resurrection. 
Handel  will   live   forever  in  the  loving  memory 
and  the  delighted  experience  of  every  appreciative 
hearer  of  the  noblest  religious  music. 

But  for  the   inspiration  of   the   Bible,  Haydn 
would  never  have  given  us  his  "Creation."     It 
has  been  truly  said  that  the  celebrated  chorus  of 
the  "Creation,"  "The  Heavens  Are  Telling,    is 
perhaps  second   only  to  the   Hallelujah   Chorus 
of  Handel's  "  Messiah. "     Joseph  Haydn  was  born 
on  the  confines  of  Hungary  and  Austria,  m  1732. 
In  the  suburbs  of  Vienna  he  composed  his  orato- 
rios "The  Creation"  and  "The  Seasons."     The 
harmonies  of  "The  Creation"  are  pervaded  with 
•    the  fires  of  youth,  although  it  was  written  in  his 
sixty-fifth  year.     Some  critics  consider  this  equal 
to  the  finest  productions  of  Handel.     "  The  Sea- 
sons "  was  almost  his  last  work. 

But  time  would  fail  to  speak  at  length  of  Mo- 
zart, who  has  been  called  the  Raphael  of  music. 


3>8 


THE  OLP  BOOK'. 


Mc  certainly  was  one  of  the  greatest  geniuses  in 
musical  history.     In  \79^  ^  mysterious  order  came 
for  him  to  write  a  requiem,  just  as  he  was  starting 
for  Prague.     This  reciuicm  has  made   his   name 
immortal.     Musical   critics  affirm   that    he   com- 
bined the  characteristics  of  the  Italian  and  German 
schools  with  marvellous  skill ;  and  also  that  to  his 
great  musical  genius  he  added  the  suavity  of  man- 
ner and  the  beauty  of  sentiment  rarely  found  even 
in  the  sons  of  the  highest  art.     I  le  died  before  he 
had  completed  the  great  work  on  which  he  was 
laboring,  and  his  body  found  rest  in  a  pauper's 
grave,  no  trace  of  his  grave  being  found,  although 
a  monument  has  been  erected  to  his  memory. 

To  the  inspiration  of  the  Hible  Heethoven  is 
indebted  for  his  grand  "  Missa  Solemnis,"  and  his 
other  great  composition,  "  The  Mount  of  Olives.^' 
There  were  several  well-marked  periods  in  his  musi- 
cal history.     Shut  out  as  he  was,  in  large  measure, 
from  the  enjoyments  of  social  pleasures,  he  found 
compensation  in  a  world  of  his  own  imagination, 
and  brought  forth  from  it  those  imperishable  treas- 
ures of  harmony  which  have  given  him  rank  among 
immortal  artists.     Some  of  his  greatest  creations 
belong  to  what  is  known  as  the  second  period  of 
his  artistic  life;  but  the  "  Missa  Solemnis"  is  the 
product  of  the  third  and  last  period  of  his  remark- 
able career.     This  and  other  works  produced  at 
that  time  belong  to  the  highest  sphere  of  art.     It 
has  been  said  by  musical  critics  that  the  deep 


St  geniuses  in 
lUS  order  came 
e  was  starting 
;ulc   his   name 
that    he   com- 
m  and  German 
ilso  that  to  his 
iiavity  of  man- 
c\y  found  even 
died  before  he 
which  he  was 
in  a  pauper's 
ound,  although 
i  memory. 
:  Heethoven  is 
;ninis,"  and  his 
unt  of  Olives." 
ods  in  hismusi- 
.  large  measure, 
isures,  he  found 
m  imagination, 
)erishable  trcas- 
lim  rank  among 
eatest  creations 
lecond  period  of 
olemnis  "  is  the 
i  of  his  remark- 
rks  produced  at 
)here  of  art.     It 
i  that  the  deep 


MCS/CAl.  lXSr/K'A7/0X  OF  THE  HIIU.E.    3 '9 

mysteries  of  his   last  works  can  be  apprehended 
only  by  those  possessed  at  >  nee  of  deep  religious 
and  artistic  emotion  and  of  wide  and  accurate  tech- 
nical and  musical  knowledge       These  critics  also 
affirm  that  the  chorus  in  the  "  Mount  of  Olives," 
"Hallelujah    to    the    l-'ather,"    is    worthy   to  be 
placed  in  the  same  category  with  the  sublime  chor- 
uses of  Handel  and  Haydn.      In   1824  his  ninth 
symphony  and  parts  of  the  grand  "  Missa  Solem- 
nis  "  were  performed,  but  he  was  so  deaf  as  not  to 
hear  a  sound.     It  was  the  bitter  irony  of  fate  that 
he  who  had  given  unspeakable  pleasure  to  so  many 
thousands  by  the  art  of  sound  should  be  deprived 
of  hearing.      His  heart  was  wounded  by  the  in- 
gratitude of  a  nephew ;  and  he  died  during  a  ter- 
rible thunder-storm.  March  27th,  1827.    The  Lon- 
don Philharmonic  Society  relieved  the  anxieties  of 
his  death-bed,  and  his  last  words  were  expressions 
of  thanks  to  his  English  friends. 

The  Bible  also  gave  Mendelssohn  his  imperish- 
able oratorios,  "  Elijah  "  and  "  Paul."  But  time 
would  fail  even  to  mention  the  name  of  every  one 
of  the  noble  artists  whose  greatest  productions 
were  inspired  by  the  Word  of  God.  One  is  often 
astonished  at  the  strange  neglect  of  the  Bible  by 
the  delighted  listeners  in  concert  halls  to  the 
music  of  these  sublime  oratorios.  One  aim  in 
these  lectures  is  to  show  the  indebtedness  of  music 
to  revelation,  and  of  art  generally  to  the  old  Bible 
which  many  so  largely  neglect,  and  of  which  occa- 


.t**l*tfcV«i-"i«'*-'>--  *'^'s''' 


390 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


sionally  they  speak  with  a  disrespect  as  surprising 
as  it  is  reprehensible. 

Better  Things  to  Come. 
We  may  be  quite  sure  that  the  Bible  has  still 
greater  musical  inspiration  for  some  musical  ge- 
nius of  the  present  or  a  future  generation,  than  it 
has  ever  given  to  the  musicians  in  the  past.     Its 
resources  are  by  no  means  exhausted.     John  Rob- 
inson, in  addressing  the  Pilgrim  fathers  as  they 
were  starting  on  their  perilous  journey,  uttered  a 
great  truth  when  he  said :  "  I  am  very  confident  the 
Lord  hath  more  truth  yet  to  break  forth  out  of  His 
holy  Word."     All  forms  of  human  genius  find  in- 
spiration in  this  divine  book.    We  may  be  abso- 
lutely certain  that  some  consecrated  musical  genius 
will  yet  give  the  Church  a  nobler  Te  Dcum  than  the 
one  which  has  been  joyously  chanted  these  hun- 
dreds of  years;  that  some  future  Bach  will  give  us 
a  grander  choral  than  even  his  which  has  risen 
from  the  heart  and  trembled  on  the  lips  of  thou- 
sands of  reverent  singers;  that  some  other  Handel 
will  tell  us  of  new  glories  in  the  Messiah  which 
even  hb  did  not  discover,  or  which  at  least  he  did 
not  declare  in  his  immortal  oratorio;  that  another 
Haydn  will  reveal  to  the  world  new  beauties  in 
creation,  and  will  show  that 

"  The  heavens  are  telling  " 

a  sublimer  song  than  that  which  he  wrote  and 
which  has  echoed  through  the  world  ever  since; 


•espect  as  surprising 

0  Come. 

the  Bible  has  still 
•r  some  musical  ge- 
e  generation,  than  it 
ns  in  the  past.     Its 
jausted.     John  Rob- 
;rim  fathers  as  they 
as  journey,  uttered  a 
\m  very  confident  the 
ireak  forth  out  of  His 
luman  genius  find  in- 
.    We  may  be  abso- 
crated  musical  genius 
»ler  Te  Dcinn  than  the 
y  chanted  these  hun- 
ure  Bach  will  give  us 

his  which  has  risen 

1  on  the  lips  of  thou- 
lat  some  other  Handel 
in  the  Messiah  which 
which  at  least  he  did 
aratorio;  that  another 
vorld  new  beauties  in 

:  telling  " 

which  he  wrote  and 
the  world  ever  since ; 


MUSICAL  INSPIRATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.    i2\ 

and  we  may  be  sure  that  Beethoven  has  not  ex- 
hausted the  varied  poetic  and  tender  associations 
of  the  Mount  of  Olives.     It  is  impossible  to  ex- 
haust the  charms  of  God's  unwritten  Bible  of  na- 
ture ;  it  is  equally  impossible  to  exhaust  the  match- 
less wonders,  the  unspeakable  beauties,  and  the 
heavenly  glories  of  God's  written  Bible  of  revela- 
tion.    New  themes  will  suggest  themselves  to  new 
.ausicians,  as  they  will  also  to  future  poets,  teach- 
ers, and  preachers.     New  perfections  in  the  char- 
acter of  Christ,  new  elements  in  the  Fatherhood  of 
God,  will  constantly  be  observed,  and  will  be  joy- 
ously declared  in  song  and  sermon,  in  sculpture, 
painting,  and  music.     In  proportion  as  musical  art 
is  consecrated  to  the  glory  of  God,  it  will  be  en- 
nobled in  spirit,  exalted  in  utterance,  and  immor- 
talized in  influence.     The  world  awaits  the  com- 
ing of  the  great  singer,  the  inspired  preacher,  and 
the  resistless  musician.     Such  will  always  have 
place  and  power  in  the  advancement  of  the  king- 
dom of  God  among  men.     All  true  religious  be- 
lievers are  members  of  God's  great  chorus.     They 
are  all  undergoing  a  process  of  training  for  partici- 
pating in  the  world's  sublimest  song.     The  whole 
creation  now  groans,  waiting  to  be  delivered  from 
the  bondage  of  corruption  into  the  glorious  liberty 
of  the  children  of  God.     The  whole  creation  is 
waiting,  watching,  and  praying  for  the  complete 
adoption  of  God  and  the  entire  redemption  of  body 
and  soul  through  Jesus  Christ.     Yonder  on  the 

31 


1ifeSe^^ai;*^&M«e»!«T««.nv 


TIIF.   OLD  BOOK. 

!»  of  glass  mingled  »ith  fire  are  those  that  have 
rtten  the  victory,  standing,  having  the  harps  »( 
?;Ta»aiting  the  moment  when  the  divme  Leader 
onhirrLemed  choir  shail  give  the  sign^^  -« 

nipotent  reigneth. 


OK. 

are  those  that  have 
having  the  harps  of 
len  the  divine  Leader 
;ive  the  signal  to  sing 
orus  ever  uttered  by 
luman   ears:    "Great 
rorks,    Lord   God  al- 
rhy  ways,  Thou  King 
or  the  Lord  God  om- 


THE    LITERARY   INCITATION   OF  THE 
BIBLE. 


IgCTBTjill  -J^'r-^'-^'igi''  ■* 


^^iWtey»r^'MJJ«^'''>^«*^'"'-^°'*'°^^'-^ 


XIX. 

The  Literary  Incitation  of  the  Bible. 

The  Bible  has  exercised  a  powerful  influence 
on  all  forms  of  literature.    When  the  mind  of  man 
comes  into  contact  with  the  mind  of  God,  all  hu- 
man faculties  are  aroused.      Mind  sharpens  mind 
in  all  human  relations.      How  much  more,  then,  is 
it  true  that  the  human  mind  is  aroused,  energized, 
and  ennobled  when  it  comes  into  contact  with 
the  mind  of  God.     This  is  true  as  God  is  studied 
in  nature,  in  providence,  and  in  revelation.     The 
Bible  ennobles  every  language  into  which  it  is 
translated.     It  intellectualizes  and  to  some  degree 
spiritualizes  every  people  among  whom  it  is  dis- 
seminated.    It  is   the  suggestive  remark  of  Dr. 
James  Hamilton  that  God  not  only  made  the  Bible 
instructive,  but  also  attractive;  and  he  illustrates 
this  idea  in  its  relation  both  to  the  physical  world 
and  the  divine  Word.     God,  as  he  indicates,  might 
have  made  a  world  without  a  carpet  of  verdure  or 
a  ceiling  of  blue;   He  might  have  made  a  world 
without  mountains,  cataracts,  or  forests,  and  with- 
out rainbows  or  flowers.     A  comparatively  plain 
world,  consisting   of   pasture   land,  arable  fields, 
clumps  of  trees,  magazines  of  fuel,  and  a  few  other 


jmfn^)U!MmMr'if^t*</^ 


32t 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


necessities,  would  have  held  and  fed  the  populous 
earth.     But  God  had  an  eye  for  the  beautiful  and 
the  sublime  in  the  physical  universe.     He  there- 
fore gave  us  Mont  Blanc,  the  Pyrenees,  and  the 
Himalayas.      He  had  an  ear  for  music,  and  He 
therefore  gave  the  zephyr  its  .song  and  Niagara  its 
thunder.      He  had   pleasure  in  colors  and  sym- 
metry, therefore  flowers  abound,  and  beauties  in 
many  forms  adhere  to  mountain,  forest,  and  field. 
In  like  manner,  God  has  made  the  Bible  not  simply 
a  book  of  duty,  but  a  volume  which  attracts  by  its 
manifold  charms.      He  might  have  given  us  simply 
a  few  plain  paragraphs  and  a  few   simple  com- 
mands ;  but  He  has  chosen  to  give  us  the  pictur- 
esque in  narrative,  the  majestic  in  poetry,  and  the 
instructive  in  parable,  prophecy,  and  proverb.     He 
gave  a  book  not  simply  to  be  a  dictionary  and  a 
grammar,  but  one  which  should  instruct  the  mind, 
captivate  the  taste,  expand  the  intellect,  transform 
the  affections,  and  purify  and  ennoble  the  entire 
life  of  man.     He  has  given  us,  as  the  same  author 
also  suggests,  apples  of  gold,  but  even  the  basket 
in  which  these  apples  are  offered  to  men  is  a  bas- 
ket of  silver,  beautiful  in  form  and  attractive  in 
design.      In  all  these  respects  the  Bible  is  unique 
among  the  literatures  of  the  world. 

Its  Stimulating  Power. 

No  other  book  so  stimulates  intellectual  activity 
as  does  the  Bible.     It  has  been  the  chief  element 


LITERARY  INCITATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.     32? 


;cl  the  populous 
le  beautiful  and 
rse.     He  there- 
renees,  and  the 
music,  and  He 
and  Niagara  its 
olors  and  sym- 
ind  beauties  in 
orest,  and  field. 
Bible  not  simply 
h  attracts  by  its 
given  us  simply 
;w   simple  com- 
/e  us  the  pictur- 
.  poetry,  and  the 
id  proverb.     He 
dictionary  and  a 
struct  the  mind, 
jllect,  transform 
noble  the  entire 
the  same  author 
even  the  basket 
to  men  is  a  bas- 
nd  attractive  in 
!  Bible  is  unique 


WER. 

ellectual  activity 
he  chief  element 


in  the  instruction  of  some  of  the  greatest  writers 
and  thinkers  the  world  has  yet  produced.     When 
John  Bunyan  was   locked  up  for  twelve  years  in 
Bedford  jail,  he  produced  his  "  Pilgrim's  Progress." 
His  only  library  was  his  Bible  and  Foxe's  "  Book 
of  Martyrs. "    These  were  his  intellectual  compan- 
ions as  he  produced  his  immortal  "dream."     So 
admirable  was  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  culture 
of  this  unlearned  "tinker  of  Elstow,"   that  the 
scholarly  John  Owen  testified   before  the  king: 
"Your  Majesty,  if   I   could   write  as   does  that 
tinker  in  Bedford  jail,  I  would  gladly  lay  down 
all  my  learning."     The  Bible  was  John  Bunyan's 
teacher,  text-book,  and  college.      He  rejoiced  in 
the  glorious  fellowship  of  Moses  in  the  law,  of 
David  in  the  Psalms,  and  of  Isaiah  and  other  holy 
men  of  God  who  wrote  as  they  were  moved  by 
the  Holy  Ghost.      We  may  read  Homer,  Milton, 
Shakespeare,  Dante,  and  all  the  great  authors  of 
a  later  period  and  even  of  modern  days,  but  all 
combined  will  fall  short  of  the  inherent  beauty, 
purity,  and  power,  or  the  intellectually  stimulating 
elements  that  are  found  in  the  Word  of  God.     In 
all  these  respects  this  word  has  no  peer  in  the 
whole  broad  range  of  ancient  or  modern  literature. 
It  has  largely  made  the  English  tongue  what  it  is, 
and  also  has  stimulated  the  best  forms  of  litera- 
ture in  that  language.     The  Bible  gave  dignity, 
honor,  and  power  to  all  the  earlier  translations  into 
the  Anglo-Saxon  and  the  German  languages.     It 


i! 


a 


.*«IWyHW»»  i*.=i 


338 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


would  be  easy  to  illustrate  and  emphasize  this  re- 
mark by  calling  the  roll  of  its  honored  translators, 
and  showing  the   influence  of  their  translations 
upon  the  language  and  learning  of  their  times. 
These  remarks  have  special  application  to  the  so- 
called  Authorized  Version.     Its  production  was  a 
great  enterprise.    Published  in  161 1.  it  soon  proved 
its  intrinsic  superiority  over  all  preceding  Eng- 
lish translations,  and  finally  practically  drove  them 
from  the  field.     It  is  couched  in  noble  language ; 
it  abounds  in  wonderful  felicities ;  it  is  musical, 
dramatic,  and  at  times  almost  tragical  in  descrip- 
tions and  delineations.     It  has  portions  equally 
pathetic  and  sublime;  and  it  also  has  a  directness 
of  utterance  and  a  reasonableness  of  thought  which 
commend  it  to  all  classes  and  conditions  of  men. 

We   might  apply   to  the   Bible   the  words  of 
Spenser  in  his  "  Faerie  Queene,"  when  he  says: 

.'  Dan  Chaucer,  well  of  English  undefyled  ^ 

On  fame's  eternall  beadroll  worthie  to  be  fyled. 

The  Bible  produced   marvellous  effects  when 
translated  into  German  by  Martin  Luther.     Not 
only  did  it  have  a  great  influence  in  extending  the 
Reformation,  but  it  also  influenced  the  German 
language,  virtually  making  the  high  German  the 
common  dialect.      Within  a  hundred  years  high 
German,  through  the  influence  of  the  Bible,  had 
come  into  such  general  use  in  churches  and  schools 
that  low  German  had  degenerated  into  a  patois. 
It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  during  the  hundreds 


ihasize  this  re- 
ed translators, 
ir  translations 
if  their   times, 
ition  to  the  so- 
oduction  was  a 
,  it  soon  proved 
(receding  Eng- 
ally  drove  them 
loble  language; 
;  it  is  musical, 
;ical  in  descrip- 
)ortions  equally 
has  a  directness 
if  thought  which 
litions  of  men. 
e   the  words  of 
when  he  says : 

efyled, 

;  tobefyled." 

,us  effects  when 
in  Luther.  Not 
in  extending  the 
ced  the  German 
ligh  German  the 
idred  years  high 
3f  the  Bible,  had 
irches  and  schools 
:ed  into  a  patois, 
•ing  the  hundreds 


LITERARY  INCITATION  OF   THE  BIBLE.     3*9 

of  years  since  the  Authorized  Version  was  is- 
sued, the  English  tongue  has  changed  less  than  it 
had  changed  during  the  half  century  which  pre- 
ceded that  version  of  the  Bible. 

The  power  of  the  Bible  in  stimulating  the  intel- 
lect and  ennobling  the  language  of  a  people  is  seen 
in  the  great  orators,  dramatists,  and  preachers  who 
have  been  chiefly  instructed  by  its  teachings.     Its 
influence  upon  the  eloquent  and  mighty  Chatham 
was  well-nigh  as  great  as  it  was  upon  Bunyan  the 
humble  tinker.    It  gave  him  variety  of  vocabulary, 
clearness  of  thought,  and  purity  of  speech.     Its 
influence  was  equally  marked  upon  John  Bright, 
He  was  a  tenacious  student  of  Milton  and  the 
Bible.     His  sustained  eloquence  would  have  been 
impossible  but  for  the  inspiration  which  he  re- 
ceived from  the   immortal   poet  and  the  divine 
book.     We  have  only  to  remember  the  wonderful 
power  as  a  preacher  and  writer  possessed  and  man- 
ifested by  the  beloved  Charles  H.  Spurgeon  to  see 
again  the  wholesome  influence  on  heart,  mind,  and 
speech  of  the  old  Bible.     He  lived  in  the  atmos- 
phere of  divine  revelation.     He  obeyed  the  exhor- 
tation in  the  book  of  Jeremiah,  and  literally  did 
eat  the  Word  of  God.     He  masticated,  digested, 
and  was   powerfully  sustained  by  this  heavenly 
food.     And  it  gave  him  all  his  crystalline  clear- 
ness of  thought,  pellucidity  of  speech,  as  well  as 
purity  of  heart  and  life. 


*s^  ..-■'««;«■•■ 


33° 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


Influence  in  Ltterature. 
John  Stuart  Mill  is  quoted  as  saying :  "  The  Bible 
and  Shakespeare  have  done  more  than  any  other 
books  for  the  English  language,  introducing  into 
the  soul  of  it  such  grand  ideas  expressed  with  such 
sublime  simplicity."      No  one  can  read  Shakes- 
peare without  discovering  that  he  was  a  careful 
and  constant  reader  of  the  holy  Scriptures;   his 
writings  show  that  he  had  great  familiarity  with 
the  thought  and  language  of  the  sacred  book.     It 
is   affirmed,   on  apparently   good  authority,  that 
"  Shakespeare  quotes  from  fifty-four  of  the  Biblical 
books,  and  not  one  of  his  thirty-seven  plays  is  with- 
out a  Scriptural  reference.     Genesis  furnishes  the 
poet  thirty-one  quotations  or  allusions,  the  Psalms 
giv'i  him  fifty-nine.     Isaiah  furnishes  twenty-one, 
Mittthew  gives  sixty,  Luke  thirty,  and  the  epistle 
to  ihe  Romans  supplies  twenty. " 

The  most  notorious  of  modern  agnostics  speaks 
sneeringly  of  the  Bible,  claiming  that  Shakespeare 
unabridged  and  unexpurgated  is  his  Bible.  Does 
this  agnostic  forget  the  source  of  Shakespeare's 
inspiration  and  of  much  of  his  power?  Does  he 
forget  that  the  Bible  (looking  at  the  matter  simply 
from  the  human  standpoint)  is  the  book  of  books, 
and  that  merely  as  a  literary  monument  it  remains, 
and  must  ever  remain,  as  the  noblest  example  of 
the  English  tongue  ? 

Reference  has  already  been  made  to  Bunyan's 


LITERARY  INCITATION  OF   THE  BIBLE.     33 » 


TURE. 

ing :  "  The  Bible 
2  than  any  other 
introducing  into 
aressed  with  such 
an  read  Shakes- 
le  was  a  careful 
Scriptures ;   his 
t  familiarity  with 
sacred  book.     It 
d  authority,  that 
mr  of  the  Biblical 
;ven  plays  is  with- 
esis  furnishes  the 
isions,  the  Psalms 
ishes  twenty-one, 
^,  and  the  epistle 

1  agnostics  speaks 

that  Shakespeare 

his  Bible.     Does 

of  Shakespeare's 

power?     Does  he 

the  matter  simply 

the  book  of  books, 

lument  it  remains, 

loblest  example  of 

made  to  Bunyan's 


"  Pilgrim's  Progress."  Macaulay  has  declared  that 
in  the  latter  half  of  the  seventeenth  century  there 
were  only  two  minds  which  possessed  the  imag- 
inative faculty  in  a  very  eminent  degree,  and  that 
one  of  thest?  minds  produced  the  "  Paradise  Lost " 
and  the  other  "  The  Pilgrim's  Progress."  It  would 
be  difficult  to  exaggerate  the  influence  and  power 
of  the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress."  This  pilgrim  has 
gone  through  the  world  scattering  spiritual  bless- 
ings with  a  liberal  hand  on  every  side.  This  book 
led  even  the  leviathan  Johnson  to  confess  that  he 
read  it  through  and  wished  it  were  longer ;  this 
book  fired  the  chivalry  of  Scott,  stimulated  the 
philosophical  analysis  of  Southey,  and  ennobled 
the  research  of  Mackintosh ;  the  poet  heart  of  Cole- 
ridge was  gladdened  by  its  pages,  and  the  scholarly 
Arnold  found  comfort  as  he  studied  its  truths.  It 
has  found  its  way  to  every  quarter  of  the  earth, 
being  read  in  the  shadow  of  the  Vatican,  up  the  far 
rivers  of  Burma,  amid  the  gardens  of  Ceylon,  under 
the  palms  of  Elim  by  the  Arab  wayfarer,  and  even 
by  the  daughters  of  Salem,  on  the  slopes  of  Olivet 
and  on  the  shores  of  the  Galilean  Sea.  We  know 
well  that  but  for  the  Bible,  Dante's  "  Divine  Com- 
edy" would  never  have  been  written.  Without 
doubt,  as  this  is  the  first  great  Christian  poem,  so 
it  is  one  of  the  very  greatest  which  Christianity 
has  produced.  Dr.  A.  H.  Strong,  in  his  recent 
essay  on  this  poem,  speaks  of  it  as  the  "  Pilgrim's 
Progress  "  prepared  in  the  atmosphere  of  mediae- 


33J  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

valism  and  in  the  religious  teaching  of  Romanism. 
He  states  that  its  object  is  to  show  the  hemous^ 
ness  of  sin  and    the  blessedness   of   the  dw.ne 
forgiveness.     Amid   all    the   influences,  personal. 
International,  and  religious,  which  led  to  us  pro- 
duction, no  influence  was  so  great  as  that  of  the 
Bible  upon  the  mind  of  its  author.     We  know 
well.  also,  that  the  Bible  aroused  the  latent  gen- 
TusofT^sso.  the  autlw  of   ''Jerusalem   D^^^^^^^ 
ered  "     He  was  one  of  the  greatest  poets  of  Italy. 
No  doubt  much  of  personal  ambition  entered  mto 
the  motives  which  produced  this  -cord  of  the  con- 
quest of  Jerusalem  by  the  Crusaders;  but  he  was 
Ived  by  piety  as  well  as  by  poetry.    He  dreamed 
Ta  cnL'de  of  poetic  genius,  and  he  a.med  to 
„.ake  songs  that  should  be  as  immortal  as  were  the 
deeds  of  the  Crusaders,  whose  heroic  acts  he  cele- 
brated.   We  shall  not  deny  that  he  greatly  desired 
the  applause  of  courts,  and  that  he  knew  that  the 
names  of  the  noble  families  would  be  revived  m 
this  epic  of  their  exploits,  and  thus  the  author 
Lld'r eceive  the  favor  of  the  rich  and  the  pow  r^ 
ful      But  we  do  not  forget  that  he  was  himsel  a 
knight,  and  that  it  was  natural  for  him  to  cele- 
bir  ;he  warlike  deeds  of  other  knights,  acting 
under  the  impulse  of  chivalry  and  religior.     Bu 
for  the  Word  of  God.  this  great  epic  would  never 
lor  tne  wur  comedy  of  Dante  and 

have  been  produced.     The  comeay  o 
the  epic  of  Tasso  did  much  to  develop  the    an 
guage  of  Italy,  helping  to  do  for  that  melodious 


of  Romanism. 
V  the  heinous- 
of   the  divine 
[ices,  personal, 
ed  to  its  pro- 
as that  of  the 
jr.     We  know 
he  latent  gen- 
usalem   Deliv- 
poets  of  Italy. 
)n  entered  into 
cord  of  the  con- 
rs ;  but  he  was 
f.    He  dreamed 
id  he  aimed  to 
irtal  as  were  the 
Die  acts  he  cele- 
!  greatly  desired 
e  knew  that  the 
d  be  revived  in 
thus  the  author 
1  and  the  power- 
lie  was  himself  a 
for  him  to  cele- 
r  knights,  acting 
id  religion.     But 
epic  would  never 
;dy  of  Dante  and 
develop  the  lan- 
ir  that  melodious 


IITEKARV  INCITA  TlOM  OF   THE  BIIU.E.     333 

tongue  what  Luther's  version  of  the  Bible  did  for 
the  robust  high  German.  It  was  the  H.ble,  with 
its  heavenward  tendencies,  its  judicial  grandeur 
its  sublime  imagery,  and  its  divine  sanctity  which 
inspired  the  heart  and  constrained  the  song  of  these 
two  great  Italians  in  their  literary  achievement. 

We  know  also  that  other  forms  of  literature  as 
well  as  music,  painting,  and  sculpture  owe  a  great 
deal  t.)  the  Bible.     Every  intelligent  student  of 
literature  must  know  that  the  Red  Cross  kn-?ht 
in  Spenser's  "  Faiirie  Queene"  is  simply  the  ar- 
mored Christian  described  in  the  sixth  chapter  o 
the  epistle  to  the  Ephesians.     One  does  not  need 
to  read  much  of   Pope's  "Messiah"   to  discover 
that  it  is  but  a  paraphrase  of  poetic  and  seraphic 
passages  in  Isaiah.     It  is  also  easy  to  see  that 
Cowper's  "Task"  drew  much  of  its  imagery  from 
the  same  noble  prophet,  that  the  "  Thanatopsis  "  of 
Bryant  could  never  have  been  written  but  for  ex- 
alted and  inspired  pages  in  Job.  and  that  Words- 
worth's "  Ode  on  Immortality  "  is  but  the  echo  of 
glowing  and  glorious  thoughts  expressed  by  the 
apostle  Paul  in  his  sublime  and  logical  discussion 
of  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection  in  First  Corin- 
thians, the  fifteenth  chapter.     Even  a  cursory  stu- 
dent of  Shakespeare,  to  refer  to  him  again,  must 
see  that  his  conception  of  woman,  of  a  Desdemona 
and  of  an  Ophelia,  would  have  been  impossible 
had  not  his  mind  been  prompted  by  a  Bible  and 
a  Christian  ideal. 


334 


THE  OLD  BOOK'. 


Klopstock's  "  Messiah  "  could  never  have  been 
written,  any  more  than  the  great  works  to  which 
reference  has  just  been  made,  had  it  not  been  for 
the  influence  of  the  word  of  God.     This  German 
poet  was  to  some  degree  a  prose  writer  as  well  as 
a  poet.     His  name  deservedly  has  a  high  place  in 
German  literature.      Some  of  the  cantos  of  his 
"  Messiah  "  give  him  honor  alike  for  nobility  of 
thought  and  for  simplicity  of  faith;  and  he  exer- 
cised an  influence  on  the   national   taste  of  his 
generation  which  was  greatly  beneficial.     Goethe, 
although   believing   that   Klopstock  had  become 
somewhat  obsolete,  still  acknowledged  the  whole- 
someness  of  his   influence   on   German   thought. 
He  found  Germany  penetrated  by  French  influ- 
ence when  he  began  to  write;  but  he  broke  loose 
from  that  foreign  despotism,  and  gave  the  honor 
of  nationality  to  German  poetry.    His  "  Messiah  " 
has  been  translated  both  into  verse  and  prose  in 
English   and   in  other  tongues.     We  know  well 
that  to  the  Bible  are  we   indebted  for  Young  s 
«  Night  Thoughts  "  and  for  Pollok's  "  Course  of 
Time,"  and  many  other  noble  works  which  occupy 
honored  places  in  the  literature  of  different  centu- 
ries and  nationalities. 

The  indirect  influence  of  the  Bible  in  suggest- 
ing characters  and  subjects  in  literature  is  scarcely 
less  than  its  direct  influence  in  giving  intellectual 
stimulus  and  spiritual  inspiration.  But  for  the 
Bible  many  of  the  elements  in  Scott's  "  Ivanhoe 


>r^Bt>.-^.    _t,.>-^^-.^'V^«ry--- 


A'. 

d  never  have  been 
eat  works  to  which 
had  it  not  been  for 
lod.     This  German 
se  writer  as  well  as 
has  a  high  place  in 
the  cantos  of  his 
dike  for  nobility  of 
faith ;  and  he  exer- 
itional    taste  of  his 
beneficial.     Goethe, 
pstock  had  become 
(wledged  the  whole- 
n   German   thought, 
d  by  French  influ- 
but  he  broke  loose 
and  gave  the  honor 
ry.    His  "Messiah" 

0  verse  and  prose  in 
ics.  We  know  well 
idebted  for  Young's 

Pollok's  "  Course  of 
i  works  which  occupy 
re  of  different  centu- 

:he  Bible  in  suggest- 

1  literature  is  scarcely 
in  giving  intellectual 
ration.  But  for  the 
in  Scott's  "Ivanhoe" 


UTERAKY  INCITATION  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


335 


William  Walters,  after  remarkmg  *f  ^ta^J 
peare,  Byron,  and  Southey  owed  some  of  therr  best 
Lenes  L  inspiration  ,o  the  Bible  says :  At  the 
™..estion  of  a  valued  friend  I  have  turned  my 
t  ougtoto  the  parallelism  between  Macbeth  and 
kt^etween  Lady  Macbe*  an     J.e  e,,_^be. 

rrhrrmTy:rr.rLidofthedea* 

o   Absalom  by  Joab;  to  the  parallel  between  rtre 
openir,  -  of  the  lamentations  of  Jeremtah  and  By- 
roTs  apostrophe  to  Rome  as  the  Niobe  of  the 
nations!  to  L  parallelism  between  h.s  own  ode 
to  Napoleon  and  Isaiah's  ode  on  the  fall  of  Sen 
IS     and  also  to  the  -emblan^  be^een 
Southey's  chariot   of   Carmala,  m  the  curse  ol 
Kehama,  and  Ezekiel's  vision  of  the  wheels;  and 
";«  forcibly  impressed  with  the  obUgat.ons 
of  these  writers  to  the  sacred  Scriptures 

merever  the  Bible  is  widely  diffused  and  care- 
fuirr^d  it  develops  all  the  intellectual  facul- 
t^s'  The  Dark  Ages  were  such  in  cons,derab  e 
^r,  because  there  was  then  a  famine  of  he  Worf 
ll  God     Wherever  that  condition  prevails  to-day, 

u      A.     The  Bible  is  now,  and  long 
illiteracy  abounds,     the  Dime  ■- 


336 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


has  been,  practically  excluded  from  Spain.  What 
is  the  result  ?  There  ignorance,  superstition,  and 
bigotry  have  long  been  dominant.  The  fact  is 
that  the  Roman  Church  has  never  favored  popular 
education.  In  countries  like  the  United  States, 
where  Protestantism  prevails,  she  has  been  com- 
pelled in  self-defence  to  open  schools  of  her  own. 
But  her  true  attitude  toward  the  education  of  the 
ir.asses  is  seen  in  countries  where  she  has  long 
had  undisputed  sway.  In  the  "  Encyclopaedia  of 
Education,"  edited  by  the  superintendent  and  as- 
sistant superintendent  of  public  schools  in  New 
York  City,  in  the  article  on  illiteracy,  we  are  told 
that  in  Italy  illiteracy  is  73  per  cent,  in  Spain  it 
is  80  per  cent,  in  the  Argentine  Republic  83,  in 
Poland  91,  and  in  Mexico  93,  while  in  so-called 
heathen  China  it  is  only  50  per  cent.  Out  of  the 
total  popuation  in  Spain  of  about  eighteen  mil- 
lions, recent  statistics  affirm  that  twelve  millions 
are  illiterate.  Similar  statistics  could  be  given 
of  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  and  other  countries  from 
which  the  Bible  has  been  long  virtually  banished. 
Priestly  domination  practically  excludes  the  Word 
of  God ;  and  its  exclusion  results  in  the  triumph 
of  ignorance,  superstition,  and  tyranny. 

The  Bible  has  exercised  a  powerful  influence  in 
restraining  immoral  literature  as  well  as  in  creat- 
ing a  literature  that  is  pure  and  noble.  It  is 
impossible  to  overestimate  its  indirect  influence 
along  this  line.     The  best  way  to  preach  down 


Spain.  What 
iperstition,  and 
The  fact  is 
avored  popular 
United  States, 
has  been  com- 
)ls  of  her  own. 
location  of  the 
:  she  has  long 
ncyclopaedia  of 
endent  and  as- 
;hools  in  New 
cy,  we  are  told 
;nt,  in  Spain  it 
Republic  83,  in 
le  in  so-called 
t.     Out  of  the 

eighteen  mil- 
;welve  millions 
ould  be  given 
:ountries  from 
lally  banished, 
udes  the  Word 
n  the  triumph 
my. 

ul  influence  in 
ell  as  in  creat- 

noble.  It  is 
irect  influence 

preach  down 


LITERARY  mCITATION  OF  THE  BIBLE.     337 

error  is  to  preach  up  truth,  and  the  only  way  to 
drive  out  darkness  is  to  let  ii.  light.  The  Bible 
thus  e.xcludes  ignoble  and  immoral  literature  by 
filling  the  home  and  the  heart  with  noble  thoughts, 
pure  inspirations,  and  divine  aspirations.  Thus 
the  Bible  is  in  all  times  and  lands  the  friend  of 
knowledge,  the  herald  of  progress,  the  source  of 
literature,  and  the  richest  benediction  to  human 
life  in  all  its  broad  ranges  and  varied  interests. 

He  is  the  enemy  of  much  that  is  most  beauti- 
ful in  culture,  most  exemplary  in  character,  and 
most  divine  in  literature  who  would  rob  our  edu- 
cational institutions  of  the  presence  and  power,  as 
a  literary  excitant  and  as  a  spiritual  inspiration, 
of  the  inspired  book  of  the  ever-living  God.  This 
book,  when  rightly  studied,  will  enable  each  of  its 
students  to  say,  ^  Ith  clarified  minds  and  purified 
hearts :  "  Thy  v/o*^f  "s  ?  lamp  unto  my  feet  and  a 
light  unto  my  p'a.' 
aa 


i. 


THE    LEGISLATIVE    DOMINANCE   OF 
THE  BIBLE. 


J 


rp^ 


XX. 

The  Legislative  Dominance  of  the  Bible. 

The  Bible  has  exercised  a  boundless  influence 
on  the  legislation  of  all  civilized  nations.     Few 
legislators  pause  to  reflect  on  their  great  indebted- 
ness to  the  Bible,  alike  for  the  principles  of  law 
and  for  the  formulation  of  that  law  in  different 
countries.     It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  the  last 
four  books  of  the  Pentateuch  furnish  the  founda- 
tion on  which   the  methods  of  right  legislation 
have  been  constructed.     We  have  in  the   Deca- 
logue the  germ  of  all  moral  duty  in  all  the  varied 
ranges  of  life.     Our  Lord  with  His  matchless  wis- 
dom in  affirmation  of  great  principles— a  wisdom 
never  surpassed  and  never  equalled — reduced  the 
Ten  Words  to  two  statements ;   one  table  of  the  law 
He  included  in  His  declaration  of  the  duty  of  su- 
preme love  to  God,  and  the  other  table  of  the  law 
He  included  in  His  affirmation  of  the  duty  of  equal 
love  to  our  fellowmen.     There  is  not  the  slightest 
do^bt  but  that  the  influence  of  the  Decalogue  fil- 
tered through  all  the  strata  of  human  thought  and 
life,  not  only  in  Israel,  but  to  a  considerable  de- 
gree among  other  nations  also.     The  study  of  the 
entire  sacrificial  system  among  the  Greeks  shows 


342 


THE  OLD  BOOK, 


that  they  learned  much  from  the  inspired  teaching 
which  controlled  the  Hebrews  in  their  religious 
life.  Indeed,  the  brightest  torches  of  classical 
philosophy,  poetry,  and  literature  generally  were 
kindled  on  Jewish  altars.  God  made  the  dispersion 
of  His  ancient  people  contribute  greatly  to  the  il- 
lumination of  all  the  nations  of  the  earth.  Doubt- 
less the  dispersion  and  captivities  of  the  Israelites 
were  controlled  by  God  alike  for  their  own  warn- 
ing and  instruction  and  for  the  impartation  of 
essential  religious  truth  to  the  nations  by  which 
they  were  surrounded.  There  is  little  doubt  that 
the  Mosaic  code  in  its  essential  features  was  known 
in  many  countries  in  which  arose  the  most  cele- 
brated founders  of  systems  and  formulators  of 
laws. 

The  Sublime  Decalogue. 

Nothing  can  surpass  the  grandeur  and  subll  ty 
of  the  circumstances  in  which  the  Decalogue  -^s 
given  to  Moses,  and  through  him  to  the  people  of 
Israel.  The  people  since  their  departure  from 
Egypt  had  passed  fifty  days  on  their  memorable 
journey.  The  fiery  pillar  went  before  them  by 
night,  and  the  cloudy  pillar  by  day.  They  were 
now  conducted  into  the  very  heart  of  the  desert. 
They  were  now  prepared  by  such  miracles  as  the 
manna  and  the  smitten  rock  to  receive  the  most 
stupendous  and  the  sublimest  of  all  the  revelations 
which  God  had  yet  bestowed.     Nothing  could  sur- 


spired  teaching 

their  religious 

les  of  classical 

generally  were 

e  the  dispersion 

reatly  to  the  il- 

!  earth.    Doubt- 

of  the  Israelites 

their  own  warn- 

impartation  of 

itions  by  which 

ittle  doubt  that 

tures  was  known 

the  most  cele- 

formulators  of 


»GUE. 

ur  and  subll  ty 
;  Decalogue  -^s 
to  the  people  of 
departure  from 
:heir  memorable 
before  them  by 
lay.  They  were 
t  of  the  desert, 
miracles  as  the 
eceive  the  most 
II  the  revelations 
•thing  could  sur- 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  343 

pass  the  grandeur  of  the  scene  when  the  law  was 
given  to  the  people.     On  the  lofty  heights  of  the 
Sinaitic   range  of  mountains — eminences    rising 
toward  God  as  if  they  were  the  ruins  of  some 
ancient  world — with  the  Persian  Gulf  on  the  one 
side  and  the  Red  Sea  on  the  other,  God  came 
down,  making   these  splintered  peaks  and  hoary 
rocks  His  august  pulpit.     The  region  was  new  to 
the  people  of  Israel,  although  not  unknown  to  their 
great  leader  and  lawgiver.     Often  in  that  same 
Horeb  Moses  had  fed  the  flocks  of  Jethro,  and  at 
the  bush  that  flamed  with  fire  he  had  received  his 
solemn  commission.     Few  places  in  all  the  earth 
could  have  been  chosen  by  God  more  suitable,  by 
loftiness,  solitariness,  and  sublimity,  for  the  impar- 
tation  of  the  divine  message  to  men.     These  moun- 
tains rise  to  a  height  of  nearly  ten  thousand  feet. 
They  stand  in  majestic  grandeur  above- the  barren 
plains.     This  region  was  God's  sanctuary,  as  this 
mountain  was  God's  pulpit.     Here  the  book  of 
heaven,  written  on  tables  of  stone,  was  given  to 
the  waiting  peoples. 

The  Decalogue  is  well  worthy,  in  itself,  of  the 
remarkable  conditions  under  which  God  communi- 
cated it  to  His  chosen  people.  We  are  not  sur- 
prised that  the  people  almost  feared,  in  this  solemn 
environment,  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  Eternal. 
Never  was  a  code  of  law  in  which  so  much  mean- 
ing is  found  in  connection  with  so  much  simplicity 
and  brevity  of  statement.     The  old  Talmudic  name, 


._J 


344 


THE  OLD  HOOK. 


the  Ten  Words,  expressed  the  truth  that  God  con- 
densed into  a  few  sentences  the  greatest  truths 
ever  communicated   to   the  human  race.     These 
words  are  so  plain  that  a  child  can  readily  appre- 
hend their  meaning;  they  are  so  few  that  they  can 
be  committed  to  memory  with  little  effort,   and 
never  be  forgotten.     Compared  to  the  numerous 
intricate  and  perplexing  laws  upon   the  statute- 
books  of  all  the  civilized  nations,  the  Decalogue 
stands  out  unique  in  simplicity,  solemnity,  practi- 
cality, and  divinity.     The  first   table  is  distinc- 
tively  religious.       It    teaches    what    is   our   true 
relation  to  God  as  Creator  and  Preserver.     The 
second  table  is  moral,  declaring  our  true  relation 
to  our  fellowmen.      In  the  first,  God  is  presented 
as  the  supreme  object  of  worship ;  and  in  the  sec- 
ond we  are  shown  the  possibility  of  worshipping 
God  aright  by  the  faithful  performance  of  our  duties 
toward  one  another.     We  have  in  this  remarkable 
code  great  principles  capable  of  universal  and  spir- 
itual application.     We  may  well  say  with  Joanna 
Baillie : 

"  The  terrors  of  that  awful  day,  though  passed, 
Have  on  the  tide  of  time  some  glory  cast." 

No  wonder  the  people  were  filled  with  holy  awe 
and  silent  wonder  as  they  witnessed  the  thunder- 
ings  and  the  lightnings,  and  listened  to  the  noise 
of  the  trumpet  proclaiming  the  existence,  the 
power,  and  the  holiness  of  the  great  God  of  Israel 
and  of  the  whole  earth.     They  might  well  ask, 


s,™w-«~*— t-'*"'^'"'**''*" 


h  that  God  con- 
greatest  truths 
in  race.     These 
n  readily  appre- 
e\v  that  they  can 
ittle  effort,  and 
:o  the  numerous 
)on   the  statute- 
s,  the  Decalogue 
lolemnity,  practi- 
table  is  distinc- 
hat   is   our   true 
Preserver.     The 
our  true  relation 
jod  is  presented 
;  and  in  the  sec- 
y  of  worshipping 
ance  of  our  duties 
n  this  remarkable 
iniversal  and  spir- 
.  say  with  Joanna 

hough  passed, 
flory  cast." 

ed  with  holy  awe 
ssed  the  thunder- 
tened  to  the  noise 
le  existence,  the 
reat  God  of  Israel 
:  might  well  ask, 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  345 

"  Who  is  like  unto  Thee,  O  Lord .'  "     Israel  has 
never  entirely  forgotten  the  solemn  experiences  of 
the  hour  when  this  divine  law  was  received.    Ref- 
erences to  that   solemn  experience  are  found  in 
psalmody,  prophecy,  and  history.     It  was  a  sensa- 
tion too  solemn  and  divine  ever  to  be  forgotten, 
even  by  those  schools  of  thought  among  the  Israel- 
ites in  which  the  divine  mission  of  Moses  and  the 
inspiration  of  the  ancient  Scriptures  are  but  lightly 
esteemed.     No  wonder  that  Disraeli  said :  "  The 
life  and  property  of  England  are  protected  by  the 
laws  of  Sinai ;  the  hard-working  people  of  Eng- 
land are  secured  a  day  of  rest  every  week  by  the 
laws  of  Sinai."     Not  only  the  people  of  England 
but  the  people  in  all  civilized  lands  have  reason 
to  bless  God  for  the  Decalogue.     The  subsequent 
history  of  Israel,  to  a  large  degree,  revolved  around 
the  holy  mount.     Our  Lord  did  not  come  to  de- 
stroy the  law;  He  positively  affirmed :  "Think  not 
that  I  am  come  to  destroy  the  law.  ...  I  am  not 
come  to  destroy,  but  to  fulfil."     That  law  stands 
revealing  the  holiness  of   God,  and  summoning 
mankind  to  duty  toward  Him  and  toward  one  an- 
other.    Jesus  Christ  did  honor  to  that  law;  noth- 
ing has  been  abrogated.     It  was  simply  fulfilled 
by  His  perfect  obedience  to  God  and  His  holy  life 
among  men.     This  Decalogue  is  the  first  statute- 
book  against  idolatry  and  polytheism.     Its  very 
first  commandment   says:  "Thou  shalt  have  no 
other  gods  before  Me."     That  is  the  very  heart  of 


___._^_..j 


346 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


all  true  worship.     We  may  have  many  objects  of 
desire  and  affection,  but  the  moment  any  desire  is 
cherished  in  preference  to  God,  that  moment  we 
become  in  heart  idolaters.    A  child  who  can  repeat 
that  command   is  wiser  than  Socrates  or  Plato, 
than   Homer  or   Hesiod,  for  these   philosophers 
and  poets  were  worshipping  lords  many  and  gods 
many.     This  same  law  sets  apart  one  day  in  seven 
to  the  service  of  the  Almighty.     This  is  one  of 
the  most  beneficent  enactments  in  the  history  of 
humanity.     This  law  consecrates  one  day  in  seven 
to  needed  rest  and  to  divine  worship.     It  lifts  up 
its  hand,  saying  to  toil :  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  come, 
and  no  further."     The  man  who  opposes  the  Sab- 
bath is  an  enemy  to  the  race  and  an  enemy  to  God. 
Our  Sunday  is  God's  benediction  upon  struggling 
humanity  in  its  manifold  cares,  burdens,  and  sor- 
rows.    Humboldt,  who  certainly  was  not  a  preju- 
diced observer,  says :  "  The  selection  of  the  sev- 
enth day  is  certainly  the  wisest  that  could  have 
been  made.     To  some  extent  it  may  be  optional 
to  shorten  or  lengthen  labor  on  other  days,  but  in 
regard  to  man's  physical  power,  and  for  persever- 
ance in  a  monotonous  employment,  I  am  convinced 
that  six  days  is  just  the  true  measure.  .  .  .  When 
in  the  time  of  the  Revolution  I  spent  several  years 
in  Paris,  I  saw  this  institution,  despite  its  divine 
origin,  superseded  by  a  dry  and  wooden  decimal 
system.     Only  the  tenth  day  was  a  day  of  rest, 
and  all  customary  work  was  continued  for  nine 


I: 


!WT-.,-.-;«^^»rf^S-t>V«'>."la-i*«fc*iW«i 


A  :5AS4i^^OS«.'«#*i.r<^-Hl*rf*:-^?ff^?l3>»^-''*^^«««^«^^ 


^  objects  of 
ny  desire  is 
moment  we 

0  can  repeat 
;s  or  Plato, 
philosophers 
ny  and  gods 
Jay  in  seven 
IS  is  one  of 
fie  history  of 
day  in  seven 

It  lifts  up 
It  thou  come, 
»ses  the  Sab- 
lemy  to  God. 
m  struggling 
ens,  and  sor- 

not  a  preju- 
\  of  the  sev- 
t  could  have 
yr  be  optional 

days,  but  in 
for  persever- 
am  convinced 
.  .  .  .  When 
several  years 
ite  its  divine 
oden  decimal 

1  day  of  rest, 
med  for  nine 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIM.E.  347 

long  days.     This  being  evidently  too  long,  Sun- 
day was  kept  by  several,  so  far  as  the  police  per- 
mittcd,  and   the   result  was  too  much  idleness. 
No  man  will  ever  be  able  to  state  the  world  s  in- 
debtedness  to  the  day  of  holy  rest,  and  to  all  the 
other  requirements  in  the  divine  Decalogue. 

INFLUEN'CE   ON    OTHER   NATIONS. 

Attention  has  already  been  called  to  the  excel- 
lent  as  well  as  wide  influence  which  the  Decalogue 
has  exerted  upon  other  nations.     Scholarship  is 
conclusively  showing  the  mutuality  of  indebted- 
ness between  the  Egyptians  and  the  Israelites. 
This  is  a  comparatively  new,  and  it  promises  to  be 
a  very  fruitful,  line  of  inquiry.     Until  lately,  many 
persons  hesitated  to  admit  that  the  Hebrews  learned 
from  the  Egyptians;  and  many  scholars  unsympa- 
thetical  toward  revealed  religion,  were  unwilling  to 
admit  that  the  Egyptians  borrowed  anything  from 
the  Hebrews.     Without  doubt,  the  indebtedness 
is  mutual.     The  Phoenicians,  as  a  branch  of  the 
great  Semitic  race,  and  as  brought  in  many  ways 
Fnto  contact  with    the  Israelites,  borrowed  very 
largely  from  the  Hebrew  code  of  laws,  as  well  as 
from  other  forms  of  ceremonial  and  religious  in- 
struction.    During   three    centuries   (1300-1000 
B  c  )  the  Phoenicians  covered  all  the  islands  and 
coasts  of  the  Mediterranean  with  their  forts  and 
factories.     The  ^gean  Sea.  with  all  its  islands, 
was  in  their  hands.     They  sailed  along  the  shores 


IR^^'jfiMa^^^'!-^ 


348 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


of  the  Black  Sea,  founded  colonies  in   Spain,  and 
passed  over  the  Atlantic  to  Britain.     They  were  a 
marvellous  people.      There  is  no  doubt  whatever 
but  that  the  Greeks  borrowed  generously  from  the 
Phoenicians  ,  the  careful  inquiries  of  our  own  day 
are  thus  developing  the  indebtedness  of  one  nation 
to  another.     To  Minos,  one  of  the  mythological 
kings  of  Crete,  the  celebrated  "  Laws  of  Minos  "  are 
ascribed,  and  he  is  said  to  have  received  from  Jupi- 
ter the  wisdom  which  he  embodied  in  these  laws. 
Here  a  great  truth  is  taught— the  truth  that  the 
human  mind  requires  divine  illumination  before  it 
is  capable  of  formulating  a  code  of  laws  for  the 
government  of  a  people.     It  is  not  unlikely  that 
traditions  were  handed  down  to  the  people  con- 
cerning the  historic  fact  of  a  divine  revelation 
made  to  Moses,  and  through  him  to  the  people 
of  Israel.     Lycurgus,  the  celebrated  Spartan  law- 
giver, is  supposed,  although  his  history  and  legis- 
lation are  involved  in  such  obscurity  as  to  be  al- 
most mythical,  to  have  flourished  about  880  B.C. 
The  traditions  inform  us  that  he  travelled  in  many 
foreign  lands,  including  Asia  Minor,  India,  Egypt, 
and  Iberia;  that  he  compared  the  political  situa- 
tions of  the  various  countries  he  visited,  and  that 
finally  he  returned  to  Sparta,  filled  with  knowl- 
edge, and  thus  fitted  to  be  one  of  the  greatest  law- 
givers of  the  race.     The  true  theory,  no  doubt,  is 
that  which  supposes  Lycurgus  thus  to  have  col- 
lected, codified,  and  enlarged  the  previously  exist- 


»fjartriwayi«;s!*»l<as!'*»=*'^'*&i 


nies  in  Spain,  and 
tain.     They  were  a 
no  doubt  whatever 
generously  from  the 
ries  of  our  own  day 
:dness  of  one  nation 
of  the  mythological 
Laws  of  Minos  "  are 
:  received  from  Jupi- 
Ddied  in  these  laws, 
-the  truth  that  the 
ilumination  before  it 
:ode  of  laws  for  the 
is  not  unlikely  that 
to  the  people  con- 
a  divine  revelation 
him  to  the  people 
ibrated  Spartan  law- 
lis  history  and  legis- 
bscurity  as  to  be  al- 
shed  about  880  B.C. 
he  travelled  in  many 
Minor,  India,  Egypt, 
d  the  political  situa- 
i  he  visited,  and  that 
ta,  filled  with  knowl- 
le  of  the  greatest  law- 
e  theory,  no  doubt,  is 
;us  thus  to  have  col- 
,  the  previously  exist- 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  349 

ing   institutions   in  Sparta  from  the  knowledge 
which  he  gained  by  foreign  travel  and  constitu- 
tional study.     It  is  not  at  all  incredible  that  he 
came  into  contact  with  different  nations  among 
whom  the  laws  of  Moses  were  the  dominant  influ- 
ence in  their  government.     We  know  that  Solon, 
another  famous  Greek  lawgiver,  was  also  a  student 
of  codes  as  formulated  and  observed  by  mrtny  dif- 
ferent nations.     Doubtless  to  him  was  attributed 
in  the  traditional  way  much  of  the  wise  legislation 
of  his  time,  although  his  relation  to  it  may  have 
been  indirect ;  and  in  some  instances  laws  whose 
paternity  was  not  known  were  attributed  to  this 
great  Athenian.     But  the  laws  of  Moses  are  supe- 
rior  to   those  of  all   the  nations,  even  the  very 
greatest,  during   the  classical  period.     A  distin- 
guished French  jurist,  himself  an  atheist,  in  com- 
paring the  laws  of  Moses  with  those  of  other  great 
lawgivers,  says :  "  Lycurgus  wrote  not  for  the  peo- 
ple, but  for  an  army ;  it  was  a  barrack  he  erected, 
not  a  commonvyealth ;  and  sacrificing  everything 
to  the  military  spirit,  he  mutilated  human  nature 
to  crush  it  into  armor.     Solon  could  not  resist  the 
effeminate  and  relaxing  influence  of  Athens.     In 
Moses  alone  do  we  find  a  morality  distinct  from 
policy,  and  for  all'  times  and  peoples.     The  trum- 
pet of  Sinai  still  finds  an  echo  in  the  conscience 
of  mankind,  the  Decalogue  still  binds  us  all." 

Whence,  then,  we  may  well  ask,  had  Moses  this 
marvellous  wisdom  ?     Questions  affecting  the  re- 


35° 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


lations  of  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the  duties  and 
the  rights  of  man.  are  now  demanding  answers. 
The  soirit  of  the  Bible  alone  furnishes  the  true 
solution  of  allthese  practical  problems. 

We  know  that  Athens  became  a  fountain  ot 
legal  wisdom,  as  it  was  a  source  of  poetical  inspi- 
ration, to  Rome.     Athens  was,  as  Milton  sang, 
the  "mother  of  arts  and  eloquence."     Its  influ- 
ence was  as  commanding  as  it  was  extended.     Ro- 
man laws  finally  were  codified  by  Justinian^  As  a 
legislator  he  gained  his  great  renown.     He  col- 
lected all  previous  legislative  enactments  which 
were  still   in  force.      He  first  compiled  a  code 
which  comprised  all  the  systems  of  his  predeces 
sors.  and  he  also  harmonized  and  published  au- 
thoritative commentaries  of  the   jurists.      This 
code  was  republished  in  534  a.d.,  with  an  edi- 
tion of  his  own  constitutions.     His  third  great 
legal  undertaking  was  the  composition  ot  a  sys- 
tematic treatise  on  the  laws,  and  this  treatise  was 
widely  circulated   and  carefully  studied,  that  it 
might  be  a  guide  to  students  and  lawyers.       ts 
title  was  "  The  Institutes."     Under  the  careful 
superintendence  and  direction  of  Tribonian,  these 
compilations  were  made.     They  were  all  written 
originally  in  Latin;  but  the  later  treatises,  whose 
preparation  Justinian  supervised,  were  written  in 
Greek,  and  were    entitled   "Novellae,"   or   New 
Works.     His  character  as  a  ruler  is  in  marked 
and  favorable  contrast  with  that  of  many  of  his 


g-MffllMV-»-*^H.' ■■ 


he  duties  and 
iding  answers, 
ishes  the  true 
ms. 

a  fountain  of 
poetical  inspi- 
i  Milton  sang, 
;e."     Its  influ- 
extended.     Ro- 
ustinian.     As  a 
lown.     He  col- 
actments  which 
ompiled  a  code 
of  his  predeces 
\  published  au- 
jurists.      This 
3.,  with  an  edi- 
His  third  great 
osition  of  a  sys 
this  treatise  was 
studied,  that  it 
nd  lawyers.      Its 
nder  the  careful 
Tribonian,  these 
were  all  written 
r  treatises,  whose 
1,  were  written  in 
ovellae,"    or    New 
iler  is  in  marked 
It  of  many  of  his 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.  35 ^ 

predecessors  and  successors,  and  his  public  admin- 
istration, apart  from  his  effort  to  control  ecclesias- 
tical affairs,  exhibited  equal  ability  and  upright- 
ness ;  but  in  his  relation  t j  religious  matters  he 
was  alike  arbitrary  and  imperious. 

We  know  that  the  laws  codified  by  Justinian 
have  entered  into  those  of  nearly  all  the  nations  of 
Europe.  In  the  Saxon  laws,  as  republished  under 
the  direction  of  Alfred  the  Great,  there  is  a  gen- 
erous infusion  of  the  principles  of  the  old  Hebrew 
code;  and  that  element  gives  to  these  laws  no 
small  part  of  their  cogency  and  justice.  No  stu- 
dent of  these  great  fundamental  and  eternal  prin- 
ciples can  fail  to  see  that  they  go  back  for  their 
origin  to  the  wonderful  code  delivered  by  God  on 
Mount  Sinai.  The  laws  now  dominant  in  Great 
Britain  and  all  her  colonies,  and  in  the  United 
States,  are  but  streams  flowing  from  the  Mosaic 
fountain,  which  in  turn  rises  in  the  very  bosom  of 
God.  Well  did  Milman,  in  his  "  History  of  the 
Jews,"  say :  "  The  Hebrew  lawgiver  has  exercised 
a  more  extensive  and  permanent  influence  over  the 
destinies  of  mankind  than  any  other  individual  in 
the  annals  of  the  world." 

Divine  Law  and  Religious  Liberty. 

The  Mosaic  law  was  interpreted  and  exalted  by 
the  teaching  of  Jesus  Christ  as  recorded  in  the 
New  Testament  Scriptures.  He  came  not  to  de- 
stroy but  to  fulfil  the  Mosaic  law,  and  in  fulfilling 


■  *t««s«s6Reaj«kowjU»i*«!=»«;iw?«fct-,^  •■:-s!s-,^ 


^j.2  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

it  He  necessarily  interpreted  that  law.  To  this 
law  we  are  indebted  for  the  liberties  which  we 
enjoy  as  Americans,  as  Anglo-Saxons,  and  as  mem- 
bers of  the  human  race.  The  liberties  of  men  are 
s  rding  with  beneficent  rapidity.    The  ^ey-woj^ 

li  the  nineteenth  century  is  ^^'^^'^P^l^^^^li 
historian  of  this  century,  writing  by  the  light  of 
S^l  next  century,  will  see  and  .tate  this  fact  mo  e 
clearly  and  forcibly  than  it  is  possible  for  us  to  see 
and  state  it  to-day.     In  harmony  with  this  spirj^^ 
slaves  were  emancipated  in  Jamaica,  serfs  to  the 
nunber  of  over  forty  millions  in  Russia  and  four 
millions  of  black  men  in  the  United  States.    This 
;   i?  is  moving  forward  to-day  with  rapid  s  ride. 
It  has  penetrated  the  "  Dark  Continent    ;  and  the 
ong  of  liberty  will  soon  go  through  its  mighty 
f..' ts,  along  the  banks  of  its  -Jf  ^ -^'/^f^ 
the  shores  of  its  almost  shoreless  lakes      We  are 
enteHng  upon  the  greatest  era  in  the  history  of 
hrhuman  race.      Liberty  in  the  noblest  sense 
Im  be  one  of  the  fruits  of  the  Spanish-American 
Tar     The  waves  of  the  Caribbean  Sea.  as  they 
break  upon  the  Cuban  shore,  are  chanting  liberty  s 
tTdcL,  and  that  song  rises  to  its  diapason  ove 
Porto  Ri  o,  and  its  sublime  hallelujah  chorus  will 
be  sung  elen  in   Spain.     Spain  will  rise  up  to 
thank  God  and  America  that  she  has  been  trans- 
lated  out  of  the  sixteenth  century  into  the  twen 
U^h  century,  and  out  of  -1  and  eccl^siast^a 
tyranny  into  civil  and  religious  liberty.     Religious 


t  law.     To  this 
;rties  which  we 
)ns,  and  as  mem- 
rties  of  men  are 
.    The  key-word 
incipation.     The 
by  the  light  of 
te  this  fact  more 
iible  for  us  to  see 
•  with  this  spirit, 
lica,  serfs  to  the 
Russia,  and  four 
ted  States.    This 
vith  rapid  strides, 
itinent "  ;  and  the 
Tough  its  mighty 
ajestic  rivers,  and 
ss  lakes.     We  are 
in  the  history  of 
the  noblest  sense 
Spanish-American 
.bean  Sea,  as  they 
;  chanting  liberty's 

0  its  diapason  over 
llelujah  chorus  will 
lin  will  rise  up  to 
he  has  been  trans- 
tury  into  the  twen- 

1  and  ecclesiastical 
liberty.    Religious 


LEGISLATIVE  DOMINANCE  OF  THE  BIBLE.     353 

liberty  is  a  natural  right  belonging  to  every  man; 
he  claims  the  privilege  of  worshipping  God  accord- 
ing to  the  dictates  of  his  own  judgment  and  con- 
science. For  these  inestimable  privileges  we  are 
indebted,  in  no  small  degree,  to  the  divine  Deca- 

The  kings  of  Assyria,  Babylon,  Persia,  and  As- 
syria, and  other  heathen  nations,  imposed  religion 
by  absolute  decree  upon  all  their  subjects.     The 
Roman  Empire  legislated  for  religion  as  well  as  in 
secular  things.     Unfortunately  Christianity,  when 
under  the  influence  of  the  Roman  and  some  other 
churches,  had  no  practical  conception  of  religious 
liberty.     The  cruelties  of  Papal  Rome  have  never 
been  surpassed  by  pagan  Rome  in  the  days  of  its 
most    Satanic  persecution  of  Christians.      When 
Constantine  embraced  Christianity  he  desired  to 
bring  the  Church,  as  well  as  the  state,  under  gov- 
ernmental control.      Unfortunately,  at  the  time  of 
the  Reformation,  even  in  England,  as  well  as  in 
Europe,  when  the  authority  of  the  Pope  was  re- 
nounced, Protestant  kings  assumed  the  headship 
of  the  Church.     This  condition  of  things  greatly 
contributed  toward  the  settlement  of  British  col- 
onies in  America.     But  some  of  these  colonists 
came  to  America  to  enjoy  religious  liberty  for 
themselves  and  to  deny  it  to  all  others.     In  South 
Carolina,  New  York,  and  Virginia  the  Church  of 
England  was  established  by  law;   and  in  many 
parts  of  New  England  a  species  of  theocratic  gov- 

23 


11 


.4|Ki4jj()M»iMiW.j<:^')k4a4t'>4P6it^ 


i»-:i--*sai*<^.'»«** 


354 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


eminent  was  the  law  of  the  land,  and  the  heavy 
hand  of  law  came  upon  those  who  desired  to  wor- 
ship God  in  ways  not  indorsed  by  the  Puritan  ec- 
clesiastics. To  the  Yioble  Baptist  Roger  Will- 
iams belongs  the  high  distinction  of  being  the 
first  to  found  a  state,  Rhode  Island,  that  entirely 
separated  civil  government  from  religion, — that 
truly  recognized  the  right  of  every  man  to  abso- 
lute religious  liberty.  This  principle  was  finally 
adopted  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
And  the  influence  of  these  American  and  divine 
principles  is  powerfully  felt  to-day  in  Europe  and 
throughout  the  whole  world.  Even  Great  Britain 
does  not  possess  entire  religious  liberty ;  non-con- 
formists suffer  many  disadvantages,  and  are  sub- 
jected to  many  forms  of  humiliation.  We  trust 
that  the  day  will  soon  come  when  the  Anglican 
Church  in  Wales  and  England,  and  the  Scottish 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Scotland  will  be  disestab- 
lished by  law,  as  the  Anglican  Church  has  been 
in  Ireland.  In  our  heart  of  hearts  we  all  can 
sing  with  Cowper : 

"  'Tis  liberty  alone  that  gives  the  flower 
Of  fleeting  life  its  lustre  and  perfume ; 
And  we  are  weeds  without  it." 

The  men  who  fight  the  battles  of  civil  and  re- 
ligious liberty  in  all  parts  of  the  world  are  the 
m».a  who  believe  in  the  Bible.  The  great  tree  of 
liberty  is  sending  its  roots  down  into  the  soil  of 
every  land,  and  its  blessed  fruits  will  soon  be  gath- 


1  the  heavy 
ired  to  wor- 
;  Puritan  ec- 
loger  Will- 
f  being  the 
hat  entirely 
igion, — that 
lan  to  abso- 
5  was  finally 
lited  States. 
1  and  divine 

Europe  and 
Ireat  Britain 
ty;  non-con- 
ind  are  sub- 
,  We  trust 
the  Anglican 
the  Scottish 
be  disestab- 
ch  has  been 

we  all  can 


er 

e; 

civil  and  re- 
'orld  are  the 
great  tree  of 
0  the  soil  of 
ioon  be  gath- 


LEGISlATiri-:  DOMINANCE  OF  TITR  HIIU.E.    355 

ered  by  all  nations,  whatever  their  color  or  creed. 
In  the  Bible  alone  can  be  found  the  inspiration 
which  will  lead  to  true  "  Liberty,  Equality,  Fra- 
ternity. "     For  nearly  a  century  these  three  words 
have  embodied  the  creed  of  many  lovers  of  liberty 
in  France  and  other  parts  of  the  world.     No  doubt 
they  have  been  used  without  proper  meaning  or 
limitation,  and  have  done  much  on  the  continent 
of  Europe  to  cause  the  movement  known  as  "  the 
Revolution."     But  the  true  interpretation  of  these 
words  is  suggested  by  the  Word  of  God.     The 
Bible  led  to  the  doctrine  of  equality,  as  set  forth 
in   the  American    Declaration  of    Independence. 
That  doctrine  is  incarnated  in  the  words,  "  All  men 
are  created  equal."     John  Adams,  the  friend  and 
successor  of  Washington,  and  second  President  of 
the  United  States,  has  stated  rightly  this  doctrine 
in  the  words  :  "  That  all  men  are  born  to  equal  rights 
is  true,  .  .  .  but  to  teach  that  all  men  are  born 
with  equal  powers  and  faculties  ...   is  as  gross 
a  fault  ...  as  ever  was  practised  by  monks,  by 
Druids,  by  Brahmans,  by  priests  of  the  immortal 
Lama,  or  by  the  self-styled  philosophers  of  the 
French  Revolution." 

But  for  the  principles  of  God's  Word  the  eman- 
cipation of  the  serfs  in  Russia  would  never  have 
occurred.  It  is  well  known  that  when  Alexander 
the  Second  was  but  a  child,  his  father,  the  Em- 
peror Nicholas,  observed  him  sad  and  thoughtful 
Upon  inquiry  as  to  the  cause,  the  boy  replied :  "  I 


,.*«(t^*^^fc*.i*UW-»i*>>.*i'*»-*^'^-''*t«'**^  '**t£:^  ii*»so(#*ii«-"«S?»*»M*>v^«h«s^.v 


,  r)J,-.'lWafc»JV'^4WJ'  tWJlClihiwi^!  mjtW-.  gf   ' 


356 


THE   OLD  BOOK. 


35" 

emperor  I  nv>11   cmancip  Efforts  were 

made  to  fill  the  coy  ^^^^  ^^^^^^3 

-«.  ™' '"  tt     s^overS^'^at  in  reading  the 
'"P"'"''"^Jvo"hf  ,  Alexanclcr  learned  that  al 
rr:trUn.  that  C^  had  ;n,aa^^^^^ 

rretr^ThesTtruttdrppeda^anin- 

''",  He  "din.othe heart o(  the  young  prmce^ 
cnrrupt.ble  seed  .nt  ,„engthemng  ».th 

They  grew  w..h  im  grow    ,  ^^  ^^^ 

his  strength,  and  at  last  they  ._^ 

T='TthjE:arXpr::^aLtioihythe 

trr^l  U-l)  -  save  liberty  to  over  forty 

millions  of  Rus^an  serfs  .^^        ^^._^^^^_ 

When  the  Bible  ;»="'  ™         „  wi,iation  and 

and  so  supreme,  -"J- "J  .^'^  ^l,  by  .he  il- 

?::::^;':::,rgwrdtreate  Shall  he  real. 

ized  in  every  nation.     Then- 

"  Shall  all  men's  good 
Be  each  man's  rule,  and  universal  peace 
Ue  like  a  shaft  of  light  across  the  land 

And  like  a  lane  of  beams  f -;];^";,''.. 
Through  all  the  circle  of  the  golden  year. 


vhen  I  become 
"     This  reply 
Efforts  were 
tractions  of  the 
ht  these  serious 
it  in  reading  the 
learned  that  all 
1  had  "  made  of 
Iwell  on  all  the 
Iropped  as  an  in- 
he  young  prince, 
engthening  with 
)udded  and  blos- 
ise  (two  years  in 
9clamation  by  the 
rty  to  over  forty 

lad  its  legitimate, 
all  legislation  and 
len  Year  by  the  il- 
eate  shall  be  real- 


THE    DOMESTIC    FELICITIES    OF    THE 
BIBLE. 


s  good 
iversal  peace 
OSS  the  land, 
thwart  the  sea, 
,e  golden  year." 


^jsi^fitjf'"-^'*  i»** 


„i...?i*«iaiJ'*-f  -**?'H 


Fi£A*»i«.iB*»'^*  s,3tp.«4».ui»b*«*?ft--'i''' 


XXI. 

The  Domestic  Felicities  of  the  Bible. 

This  is  a  very  broad  and  an  equally  suggestive 
and  instructive  subject.     It  is  also  a  subject  of 
special   interest   in  our  day.     Seldom  has  there 
been  a  time  in  our  country  when  the  teachings  of 
the  Bible  touching  all  the  questions  relating  to 
home  and  family  life  were  more  needed  than  at 
this  hour.     The  Bible  surpasses  all  other  books  in 
the  wisdom  with  which  it  answers  important  and 
often  perplexing  questions  in  family  life  and  daily 
duty.    It  is  the  great  statute-book  for  all  times  and 
nations.     Only  as  its  teachings  are  fully  under- 
stood and  clearly  obeyed  is  family  happiness  pos- 
sible.     Only  as  its  laws  become  incorporated  into 
human  codes  will  family  life  realize  its  high  and 
holy  ideal.     Our  city  and  country  have  recently 
acquired  an  unenviable  notoriety  because  of  flagrant 
disobedience  to  the  laws  of  the  Bible  in  regard  to 
marriage  and  divorce.     A  portion  of  the  commu- 
nity, often  spoken  of  as  the  "four  hundred,"  has 
become  conspicuous  for  its   degrading   disregard 
of  family  propriety  and  divine  law  in  relation  to 
personal  purity   and  appropriate  marriage.      The 

Scotch  word  "sconnered"    excellently  expresses 


ip 


360 


THE   OLD  hOOfi'. 


the  feeling  of  disgust  entertained  by  a  consider- 
able  proportion  of  the  bett.-r  rlasspH  Rorially  and 
religiously,  regarding  this  recent  violation  of  the 
laws  both  of  God  and  man.    We  are  greatly  in 
need  of  uniform  laws  governing  marriage  and  di- 
vorce—laws which  shall  be  str'ctly  observed  in 
all  the  cities  of  the  American  Union.     We  are 
greatly  in  need  of  the  observance  of  the  Word  of 
God  as  the  one  rule  governing  all  the  relations  of 
life.     The  whole  country  has  been  so  humiliated  in 
the  eyes  of  the  civilized  world  by  the  gross,  vulgar, 
and  altogether  abominable  course  pursued  by  those 
to  whom  reference  has  just  been  made,  that  the 
need  of  such  laws  is  keenly  felt.     Questions  have 
often  arisen  as  to  the  canons  of  various  churches 
regarding  the  marriage  of  divorced  persons.     The 
true  statute-book  touching  this  matter  is  found  in 
the  New  Testament,  in  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Himself.     We  shall  never  be  wiser  than  was  the 
great  Master;   we  shall  ever  be  guilty  of   folly 
until  we  accept  His  words  as  the  only  law  govern- 
ing all  these  delicate  and  holy  relationships  in 
life. 

Society  and  the  Bible. 

In  these  recent  days  a  new  significance  has  been 
given  to  statutes  affecting  society  and  socialism. 
We  have  brought  into  common  use  the  phrase 
"social  science,"  and  the  somewhat  barbarous 
word  "  sociology. "     By  social  science  is  meant  the 


considcr- 
rially  and 
ion  of  the 
greatly  in 
;e  and  di- 
sserved in 
We  are 
le  Word  of 
elations  of 
miliatedin 
OSS,  vulgar, 
;d  by  those 
e,  that  the 
itions  have 
IS  churches 
sons.     The 
is  found  in 
Lord  Jesus 
an  was  the 
ty  of   folly 
law  govern- 
ionships  in 


ce  has  been 
d  socialism, 
the  phrase 
t  barbarous 
is  meant  the 


DOMESTIC  FEUCrnt.S  OF  THE  Jim  I.E.     361 

study  of  all  that  relates  to  the  social  improve- 
ment of  the  community.    A  society  was  organized 
under   the   leadership  of    Lord   IJroiigham,  July. 
1857,  Its  aim  being  to  consider  the  best  means  of 
uniting  and   harmonizing  all   the   elements    that 
may  cooperate  in  the  common  advancement  of  the 
people.     Organizations-now  exist  in  different  parts 
of  the  United  States,  and  under  the  general  term 
sociology  the  study  of  the  origin  and  develop- 
ment of  human  society  is  carried  on  by  many  phil- 
osophical and  philanthropic  men  and  women.    Ml 
that  relates  to  social  well-being  is  of  the  utmost 
importance   to  every  well-wisher  of  the   human 
race.     Socialism  has  become  a  significant  feature 
of  our  time.     Historically  it  is  a  prodact  of  the 
French  Revolution.     That  revolution  was  itself  in 
some  sense  a  protest   against   the   feudalism   of 
the  Middle  Ages.     In  the  eighteenth  century,  in 
France,  England,  and  Germany,  a  new  social  so- 
ciety giving  great  prominence  to   the   rights  of 
humanity  as  a  whole  became  conspicuous.     Per- 
haps the  first  manifestation  of  that  modern  spirit 
of  industry  was  an  extreme  individualism.     Now 
it  has  become  socialistic  rather  than  individual- 
istic.    Here,  as  everywhere,  the  great  principles 
laid  down  in  God's  Word  must  finally  become  the 
dominant  influence  and  the  guiding  force,  else  the 
best  interests  of  individuals  and  communities  can- 
not be  preserved.     Without  doubt,  society  is  an 
institution  of   God.     All    men   have    instinctive 


362 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


cravings  for  companionship.     No  tendency  in  the 
human  race  is  more  marked  than  its  greganous- 
ness      Our  various  faculties  and  affections  require 
congenial  society  for  their  symmetrical  and  so  ap- 
propriate development.  We  are  depen-^ent  one  upon 
another  from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.     The  Word 
of  God  tells  us  that  God  has  set  the  solitary  m 
families,  that  man  was  made  for  domestic  life,  for 
friendship,  and  for  citizenship,  with  all  their  varied 
privileges   and   consequent   obligations.      Society 
demands  that  we  relinquish  certain  privileges  to 
which  we  might  be  entitled  if  we  lived  as  savages 
or  remote  from  human  habitations,     Just  in  pro- 
portion as  we  enjoy  great  advantages  in  huinan 
fellowship,  must  we  abandon  certain  individual 
rights.     Society  is  made  up  of  such  relinquish- 
ment because  of  the  advantage  which  comes  from 
association.     This  principle  is  illustrated  in  urban 
lif-  at  every  point      Many  things  a  citizen  of  a 
great  city  must  set  aside  which  he  might  possess 
were  he  living  in  a  rural  community.     But  the 
gain  in  other  directions  far  more  than  compensates 
for  the  loss  in  any  given  regard 

The  Bible  everywhere  recognizes  the  divine  ori- 
gin of  the  family  and  of  30ciety;  and  the  Bible 
supplies  the  right  motive  and  due  direction  in  the 
performance  of  the  varied  duties  which  these  rela- 
tionships  imply  and  necessitate.  Everywhere  the 
spirit  of  the  Bible  is  conducive  to  the  sanctifica. 
tion  and  exaltation  of  the  home.     It  has  been  said 


tendency  in  the 
its  gregarious- 
iffections  require 
;trical  and  so  ap- 
pen'^ent  one  upon 
ave.     The  Word 
t  the  solitary  in 
domestic  life,  for 
th  all  their  varied 
;ations.     Society 
ain  privileges  to 
;  lived  as  savages 
ns,     Just  in  pro- 
ntages  in  human 
;ertain  individual 
such  relinquish- 
vhich  comes  from 
lustrated  in  urban 
igs  a  citizen  of  a 
he  might  possess 
munity.     But  the 
;  than  compensates 

zes  the  divine  ori- 
ty;  and  the  Bible 
ue  iirection  in  the 
s  which  these  rela- 

Everywhere  the 
e  to  the  sanctifica- 

It  has  been  said 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  OF  THE  BIBLE.    S^S 

that  the  dearest  words  in  our  language  are  mother, 
home,  and  heaven.     Certain  associations  of  the  ut- 
most tenderness  gather  about  each  word  m  this 
remarkable  triad.     We  can  ill  spare  all  that  the 
old-fashioned  word  home  suggests  in  oui  personal 
and  family  experience.     There  is  no  word  in  the 
French  language  for  home.     It  is  true  that  there 
are  in  that  language  various  partial  substitutes  for 
this  beautiful  and  inspiring  word.     The  word  is 
in  Anglo-Saxon  ham;  in  German  it  is  hetm,  and 
it  is  allied  to  the  Greek  word  kdme,  meaning  a  vil- 
lage    It  has  this  meaning  also  in  all  the  languages 
in  which  it  appears  in  its  various  forms ;  and  that 
old  Teutonic  idea  is  preserved  in  such  names  as 
Burnheim,  Nottingheim,   Hochheim,  and   Mann- 
heim     But  in  our  ordinary  usage  the  word  is  far 
more  tender  and  suggestive  than  if  it  were  ex- 
tended to  include  a  village,  or  if  it  were  limited 
to  the  house  in  which  one  resides.     Dryden  well 

'  * '  Home  is  the  secret  refuge  of  our  life. " 

While  the  French  have  substitutes  for  this  word, 
even  they  themselves  will  frankly  admit  that  they 
have  no  exact  equivalent  for  this  word.  AH  that 
is  meant  in  the  relation  of  husband  and  wife, 
parent  and  child,  brothers  and  sisters,  is  wrapped 
up  in  this  tender  word  home.  Even  the  grave  is 
spoken  of  in  Script.re  as  our  "long  home."  and 
no  thought  of  heaven  is  more  precious  than  that 
suggested  by  the  words  "our  heavenly  home. 


1,64 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


This  idea  of  home  the  Bible  everywhere  recog- 
nizes,  emphasizes,  and  sanctifies. 

The  Bible  also  gives  sacredness  to  the  marriage 
relation      In  one  form  or  another  marriage  is  one 
of  the  oldest  institutions  of  society,  and  is  the 
source  or  product  of  some  of  its  most  ancient  laws. 
Two  institutions  come  down  to  us  from  the  hap- 
piness and  holiness  of   Eden,  marriage  and  the 
Sabbath      These  divine  institutions  hav,  outlived 
the  cataclysm  which  separated  man  from  God  and 
man  from  man;  they  have  thus  survived  the  fall 
and  are  anticipations  of  Eden  restored.     The  ne- 
cessity for  the  regulation  of  the  relations  of  men 
and  women  in  family  life  has  been  felt  m  all  the 
ages  of  human  history;  a  similar  necessity  obtains 
also  in  defining  their  obligations  to  their  children^ 
The  practice  of  the  greater  nations  of  the  civilized 
world  indorses  the  marriage  of  one  man  and  one 
woman  at  a  time;   but  monogamy  is  a  compara- 
lively  recent  development  of  marriage.     Few  so- 
cial studies  are  more  important  and   instructive 
than  those  connected  with  the  marriage  relation 
as  it  has  been  developed  in  many  civilizations  and 
as  it  has  manifested  itself  in  different  centuries 
a^d  religions.     In  1085  Hildebrand  declared  mar- 
riage  to  be  a  sacrament  of  the  Church      At  the 
Reformation  Calvin  elevated  that  thought  to  a 
still   higher   level,  declaring  marriage  to  be  an 
institution    of    God.     Unfortunately,    the  school 
which  recognized  Grotius  as  its  leader  made  mar- 


where  recog- 

the  marriage 
rriage  is  one 
y,  and  is  the 
ancient  laws, 
irom  the  hap- 
•iage  and  the 
hav,  outlived 
from  God  and 
vived  the  fall 
red.     The  ne- 
ations  of  men 
felt  in  all  the 
cessity  obtains 
their  children, 
of  the  civilized 
e  man  and  one 
r  is  a  compara 
iage.     Few  so- 
ind   instructive 
irriage  relation 
;ivilizations  and 
ferent  centuries 
d  declared  mar- 
:hurch     At  the 
t  thought  to  a 
riage  to  be  an 
ely,    the  school 
ader  made  mar- 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  OF  THE  BIBLE.     36S 

riage  simply  a  contract  or  partnership.     We  are  at 
present  suffering  in  the  United  States  from  the 
inconsistency  of  our  laws  in  regard  to  the  whole 
subject  of  rnarriage  and  divorce.     As  already  im- 
;ied  in  this  lecture,  we  never  shall  reach  salutary 
ground  until  we  take  the  Word  of  God  as  our  great 
ftatute.book  touching  this  important  relationship 
n  life      Its  profound  principles,  if  fully  obeyed, 
would  "sanctify  and  glorify  the  ^^^^'^J^  '^'^l^, 
Tnall  instances  where  that  relationship  ^s  robbed 
of  its  power,  this  sad -result  is  due  to  the  total  or 
partial  neglect  of  obedience  to  the  great  statute- 
book  on  mLiage  as  on  all  other  ^-an  -laUon- 
ships      It  will  be  well  for  all  our  churches  to  get 
back  to  the  plain  and  authoritative  teaching  of  the 
H  ad  o    the  Church  in  deciding  every  question 
regarding  marriage,  divorce,  and  all  family  rela- 

''Thl' Bible  also  sanctifies  family  life.     Itjv^^^ 
parents  the  honor  of  the  obedience  to  which  they 
a  e  entitled.     It  stimulates  brotherly  and  sisterly 
e  and  binds  the  members  of  the  family  togeth- 
n  consideration  and  affection.      It  has  been  well 
Taid  that  "The  Bible  transforms  the  h-e  -^^ 
the  home."     There  is  no  true  family  life  where 
's    p  esence    is    not    enjoyed  and  its   precepts 
obeyed.     The  importance  of  the  family  relation 
was  recognized  even  in  heathen  times  and  fami- 
Ues.     A^ong  the  Greeks  the  family  or  hou^e  w 
recognized  as  the  nucleus  of  society.     Aristotle 


366 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


went  so  far  as  to  speak  of  it  as  the  foundation  of 
society ;  and  he  quotet'  Hesiod  as  declaring  that 
the  original  family  consisted  of  the  wife  and  the 
laboring  ox.  Strangely  enough,  in  that  conception 
of  family  life  the  ox  was  considered  as  occupying 
the  position  of  a  family  servant.  The  Greek  idea 
of  family  life  includes  tlie  idea  of  the  slave  in  his 
relation  to  a  man  and  his  wife.  The  Roman  idea 
associated  the  family  life  still  more  closely  with 
that  of  the  state.  The  position  of  the  father  was 
taken  as  the  basis  of  the  political  and  social  rela- 
tion of  the  people. 

In  Christian  countries  the  family  bond  is  exalted, 
sweetened,  ^nd  spiritualized.     Marriage   is  made 
an  essential  condition  of   the  'rue  development  of 
home.     Home,  then,  becomes  i.:t  merely  a  house, 
not  merely  a  shelter,  but  it  suggests  comfort,  de- 
cency, purity,  nobility,  and   godliness.     Only  as 
these  ideas  are  preserved  and  illustrated  does  fam- 
ily life  become  estimable  in  itself  and  a  benedic- 
tion to  the  children  in  the  home.      Every  home 
ought  to  have  an  open  Bible  as  the  symbol  of  su- 
preme authority.     Such  an  influence  would  be  more 
beneficial  than  the  wisdom  of  all  the  statesmen 
of  all  the  ages.     The  principles  of  the  Bible  will 
allay  every  passion,  inspire  all  noble  ambitions, 
sweeten  every  drudgery,  and  beautify  every  obliga- 
tion in  every  family.     This  spirit  makes  the  birth 
of  every  child  a  time  of  solemn  joy  and  thoughtful 
thanksgiving;  it  hghtens  tv.^  -crrc,..  oi  sickness, 


oundation  of 
iclaring  that 
wife  and  the 
.t  Conception 
as  occupying 
e  Greek  idea 
;  slave  in  his 
Roman  idea 
closely  with 
le  father  was 
d  social  rela- 

nd  is  exalted, 
age  is  made 
ivelopment  of 
;rely  a  house, 
comfort,  de- 
ss.  Only  as 
ted  does  fam- 
nd  a  benedic- 
Every  home 
symbol  of  su- 
vould  be  more 
he  statesmen 
the  Bible  will 
lie  ambitions, 
'  every  obliga- 
akes  the  birth 
.nd  thoughtful 
,  oi  sickness, 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  OF  THE  BIBLE.     1^1 

and  makes  death  but  the  porter  who  opens  the 
gate  of  glory  to  the  departing  soul.  We  cannot 
tro  strongly  emphasize  the  value  of  godly  homes 
in  building  up  the  nation. 

Finely   has   Father   Hyacinthe,  in  one  of  his 
Notre  Dame  Conferences,  as  quoted  by  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Walters  in  his  little  volume  entitled  "  Claims 
of  the  Bible,"  said  :  "  Show  me  families  worthy  of 
the  name— true  domestic  commonwealths— father 
a,-id  mother,  king  and  minister,  enthroned  together 
in  che  midst  of  the  circle  of  their  children,  talking 
to  them  of  ancestors,  of  honor,  of  duty,  and  being 
hearkened  to— commanding  in  respect,  and  still 
more  in  love  and  being  obeyed;  show  me  a  father, 
kihg  in  his  home,  and  so  much  the  more  free  in 
the  world  without  as  he  is  authoritative  in  the 
world  within;  show  me  homes  like  these,  and  I 
will  show  you  republics!     The  genuine  free  citi- 
zen is  the  father,  respected  and  obeyed  at  home. 
It  is  out  of  such  sturdy  materials  as  these  that 
lasting  social  order  can 'be  built." 

Divorce  and  the  Bible. 
This  relationship  has  already  been  touched  upon 
in  the  preceding  remark' ,  but  it  is  deserN'ing  of 
fuller  emphasis.  It  is  well  known  that  the  desire 
to  obtain  release  from  matrimonial  bonds  has  man- 
ifested, itself  in  every  age  and  under  every  civili- 
zation Thi?  release  was  often  granted  in  heathen 
nations  on  the  slightest  grounds.     The  Romans 


368 


THE  Ol.n  BOOK. 


considered  marriage  as  little  more  than  a  conven- 
tional union,  and  as  such  it  was  observed  only  so 
long  as  it  suited  the  convenience  of  both  parties 
to   the  contract.     Christians   take  much   higher 
ground,  adopting  as  the  basis  of  their  systems  the 
Scriptural  law  as  given  by  the  Lord  and  His  apos- 
tles.    Marriage  among  Christian  nations  was  gen- 
erally regarded  as  a  sacred  tie,  to  be  dissolved  only 
on  the  ground  of  infidelity  to  the  marriage  vow. 
Unfortunately  now,  by  many  Christian  people,  and 
apparently  with  the  sanction  of  Christian  churches, 
this  Scriptural  ground  for  divorce  is  largely  aban- 
doned.    In  Roman  Catholic  countries  the  principle 
laid  down  by  the  Council  of  Trent,  in  its  decree 
declaring  marriage  indissoluble  even  when  both 
parties  had  violated  its  Scriptural  conditions,  has 
been  generally  observed ;  but  in  those  countries  it 
is  not  a  little  remarkable  that  dispensations  can  be 
secured  with  the  utmost  ease,  and  that  according  to 
the  very  highest  testimony,  in  countries  so  distinc- 
tively Catholic  as  Porto  Rico,  and  Mexico,  it  is 
affirmed  that  one-half  of  the  families  are  living 
without  having  gone  through  any  form  of  marriage 
whatever.    They  are  not  even  under  what  is  known 
as  a  common-law  marriage ;  and  most  of  their  chil- 
dren are  born  outside  of  wedlock.    In  many  of  these 
countries  the  priests   have  been  accustomed   to 
charge  sums  of  money  for  the  performance  of  the 
marriage  ceremony  which  the  poor  people  were 
unable  to  pay,  and  the  result  was  that  marriage 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  OF  THE  PIBLE.     3^9 


in  a  conven- 
rved  only  so 
both  parties 
luch   higher 

systems  the 
[id  His  apos- 
3ns  was  gen- 
ssolved  only 
arriage  vow. 
1  people,  and 
ian  churches, 
largely  aban- 
the  principle 
in  its  decree 
\  when  both 
nditions,  has 
:  countries  it 
lations  can  be 
;  according  to 
es  so  distinc- 
Mexico,  it  is 
es  are  living 
n  of  marriage 
?hat  is  known 
:  of  their  chil- 
many  of  these 
xustomed   to 
mance  of  the 

people  were 
that  marriage 


was  to  a  large  degree  entirely  discarded.     Even 
in  other  conditions,  where  persons  desired  to  con- 
tract marriage,  they  were  forbidden  by  the  canons 
of  that  Church,  and  dispensations  have  been  se- 
cured without  much  difficulty  which  permitted  the 
consummation  of  the  marriage  in  violation  of  all 
ecclesiastical  canons.     Luther  and  Calvin  taught 
that   divorce   should    be   granted   on   what   were 
known  as  Scriptural  grounds,  and  also  for  mali- 
cious desertion.     There  is  probably  no  reproach 
attaching  to  American  social  life  today  greater 
than  the  ease  with  which  divorces  can  be  secured. 
The  reasons  assigned  are  often  most  ridiculously 
frivolous,  and  yet  the  divorces  are  granted;  and 
often  those  thus  divorced,  as  in  this  recent  case  in 
New  York,  step  across  the  bounds  of  New  York 
state,  and  almost  before  the  ink  is  dry  on  the  de- 
cree of  divorce  forbidding  the  one  proved  guilty  to 
remarry,  a  remarriage  is  consummated  in  another 
state.    The  time  has  come  when  all  true  American 
citizens  must  declare  their  abhvirrence  of  a  system 
which  permits  so  degrading  a  condition  of  things. 
The  peculiarly  offensive  feature  of  impropriety  is 
that  the  parties  to  it  are  known  as  being  active  in 
Church  life,  and  especially  in  a  Church  whose  can- 
ons such  a  marriage  violates.     But  they  remain  in 
the  enjoyment  of  their  church  relations  without 
discipline,  and  soon  they  will  have  social  and 
ecclesiastical  approval. 


24 


37° 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Woman  and  the  Bible. 
The  Bible  has  been  to  a  very  remarkable  degree 
the  friend  of  woman.     In  the  Orient  woman  is 
man's  toy  or  slave  by  turns,  and  sometimes  she  is 
virtually  both  at  the  same  time.     In  continental 
Europe  she  is  honored  as  nowhere  in  the  Orient; 
but  even  in  continental  Europe  her  condition  is 
often  one  of  marked  dishonor.     She  sometimes  is 
at  work  in  the  fields  yoked  with  an  ox.  and  is  fre- 
quently the  drudge  and  virtual  slave  in  the  home. 
In  Great  Britain  her  position  is  much  more  hon- 
ored than  anywhere  in  continental  Euorpe.     In 
America  she  receives  a  degree  of  respect,  position, 
and  honor  not  surpassed,  perhaps  not  equalled,  even 
in  Great  Britain.     Here  she  is  man's  equal,  his 
companion  in  all  the  tenderest  relationships  and 
in  all  the  holiest  duties  of  life.     This  is  peculiarly 
woman's  century;  its  last  quarter  has  given  her 
honor  in  all  the  walks  of  business  and  professional 
and  social  life  as  never  before  in  human  history. 
She  is  queen  of  the  home,  and  the  home  is  pecul- 
iarly her  domain  of  noblest  influence,  while  that 
influence  is  extended  at  the  same  time  to  many 
kinds  of  professional  life  and  to  some  of  the  duties 
of  a  business  career.     There  is  no  doubt  but  that 
the  long  and  marvellous  reign  of  Queen  Victoria 
has  tended  greatly  to  the  honor  of  woman  in  every- 
civilized  land.     Her  influence  has    purified  her 
court,  and  has  tended  to  the  purification  of  every 


«£-.0»3(W«Q*-«6.^-*«»»>^    »^* 


•kable  degree 
nt  woman  is 
etimes  she  is 
n  continental 
n  the  Orient ; 
r  condition  is 

sometimes  is 
ox,  and  is  fre- 
:  in  the  home, 
ch  more  hon- 
.  Euorpe.     In 
pect,  |t>osition, 
equalled,  even 
in's  equal,  his 
ationships  and 
is  is  peculiarly 
has  given  her 
nd  professional 
human  history, 
home  is  pecul- 
ice,  while  that 

time  to  many 
ne  of  the  duties 
doubt  but  that 
Queen  Victoria 
woman  in  every 
LS  purified  her 
kation  of  every 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  OF  THE  1URI.E.     37' 

royal  court  on  the  globe ;  that  influence  has  bright- 
ened  the   lowliest  home,   and  has  ennobled  the 
humblest  womanhood   in  every  country.     It  was 
an  American  who  gave  us  the  phrase,  "  the  quecn- 
liness  of  the  woman,  and  the  womanliness  of  the 
queen " ;  and  it  was  an  American  who  gave  the 
world  the  toast,  "Victoria,  queen  of  Great  Brit- 
ain and  Ireland,  empress  of  India,  and  woman  of 
the  world."     In  Greece,  in  the  days  of  her  classic 
glory,  woman  was  merely  a  slave ;  the  only  woman 
who  might  enjoy  the  intellectual  companionship 
of  men  was  a  woman  of  a  class  whose  very  name 
is  a  dishonor  to  womanhood  in  every  age  and  land. 
This  class  of  women  were  educated,  and  permitted 
to  associate  with  educated  men.     The  most  hon- 
ored figure  on  a  woman's  tomb,  in  that  day  of 
classic  glory  in  Greece,  was  a  muzzle,  suggesting 
that  she  should  not  speak,  and  a  pair  of  reins, 
teaching  that  she  should  be  driven  by  her  hus- 
band.    In  Rome  the  honor  and  reverence  given  to 
her  now  in  the  most  intelligent  lands  of  Christen- 
dom were  utterly  unknown.     The  Bible  teaches 
the  true  relation  that  ought  to  exist  between  the 
sexes.     Tennyson  in  his  noble  words— words  that 
will  live  through  all  coming  years— but  expresses 
the  thought  of  Scripture  regarding  woman  in  the 
tender  relationship  of  marriage,  when  he  tells  us 
that  woman — 

' '  Is  not  undevelopt  man, 
But  diverse.     Could  we  make  her  as  the  man. 


C*.t.*j(N«!n*^'«^"'»W*^-'  '■ 


37  « 


THE  OLD  HOOK. 


Sweet  love  were  slain  ,  l>is  dearest  bond  .9  thU. 
Not  like  to  like,  but  like  in  difference. 
Yet  in  the  long  years  liker  must  they  grow. 

The  man  b.- more  ,     woman,  she  of  man 

He  train  in  sweetness   and  i'.  moral  height. 

N  r  lose  the  wrestling  thews  that  throw  the  world. 

She  mental  breadth   nor  fail  in  chlldward  care. 

Nor  lose  the  chiUllike  in  the  larger  mind  ; 

Till  at  the  last  she  set  herself  to  man.^^ 

I  ike  perfect  music  unto  noble  words. 

The  Bible  blesses  all  ranks  and  conditions,  as 
it  does  both  sexes,  in  society.  It  makes  the  nch 
LXatetpdthepoora^^^^^^^^^^ 

Todr^b  ::ti;;:r— ^^^^ 

the  lowliest  cottage  and  in  the  most  splendid  pal- 
ace     The  poor  have  ever  found  the  Bible  to  be 
the  best  guide  in  life,  and  Jesus  Christ  to  be^e  r 
dearest  and  truest  friend.     The  spirit  of  the  Bible 
ha    built  hospitals,  orphanages,   academies    col^ 
Wes    and  all   the  noble  institutions  of  all  the 
noblest  charities.     It  has  bridged  over  the  chasm 
between  classes,  uniting  all  in  one  true  and  nob  e 
brotherhood.     The  spirit  of   this  brotherhood  is 
presen  only  as  the  spirit  of  Jesus  Christ  and  of  the 
C"ed  Bfble  is  also  present.     Nothing  is  more 
certain  than  that  the  Gospel  is  the  harmonizer  o 
an  the  conflicting  interests  of  ^^^^^f  ,  Jj 
alone  levels  society-levels  it  up  and  not  d^wn^ 
Jesus  Christ  was  a  working  man,  and  the  labo^'^ 
will  find  in  Him  evermore  his  truest  friend      A^l 
hat  is  true  in  communism  is  the  offspring  of 


-*  '^ga}^:-^<mi>K  1 " 


.T».«niv.'»e<W"'  •^^ 


id  is  this, 

grow, 

nan  ; 

lelght. 

3W  the  world. 

yard  care. 

ind  ; 

1, 
I* 

d  conditions,  as 
t  makes  the  rich 
the  poor  unenvi- 
that  noble  man- 
nay  be  found  in 
lost  splendid  pal- 

the  Bible  to  be 
:hrist  to  be  their 
pirit  of  the  Bible 

academies,  eol- 
ations of  all  the 
;d  over  the  chasm 
»ne  true  and  noble 
is  brotherhood  is 
5  Christ  and  of  the 

Nothing  is  more 
the  harmonizer  of 
mman  society.  It 
up  and  not  down. 
Ln,  and  the  laborer 
truest  friend.  All 
s  the  offspring  of 


DOMESTIC  FELICITIES  0'-'  THE  fit  ft  I.E.     373 

Christ's  religion.     Ml  that  is  evil  in  it  is  opposed 
by  that  Gospel.      Put  Christ  into  the  hearts  of  em- 
ployer and  employed,  and   injustice,   oppression, 
and  strikes  will  be  impossible.    No  form  of  slavery 
can  exist  in  an  atmosphc  ^  warmed  by  the  love  of 
Christ.     In  that  warmth  the  chains  of  slavery  melt. 
Could  Philemon  look  on  Onesimus  as  a  chattel 
when  the  love  of  Christ  was  in  the  hearts  of  both? 
Impossible !    The  old  bond  might  for  a  time  exist, 
but  the  slave  Onesimus  and  the  master  Philemon 
were  now  brethren  in  Christ.     What  good  thing 
have  all  the  centuries  produced  whose  origin  is 
not  in  this  blessed  Bible  ?     Us  spirit  lifts  now,  as 
ir  all  the  past,  nations  and  races  out  of  barbarism 
into   civilization,  out   of   sin   into   holiness,   and 
from  earth  to  heaven.     A  Christless  philanthropy 
is  a  meaningless  thing.     Christ  was  the  true  re- 
former, the  divine  humanitarian,  the  spiritual  re- 
generator.    Guizot  tells  us  that  "  Christianity  has 
carried  repentance  even  into  the  souls  of  nations. 
Pagan  antiquity  knew  nothing  of  these  awakenings 
of  the  public  conscience.     Tacitus  could  only  de- 
plore the  decay  of  the  ancient  rights  of  Rome,  and 
Marcus  Aurelius   could    only   wrap  himself   up 
sorrowfully  in  the  stoical  isolation  of  the  sage. 
There  is  nothing  to  show  that  these  superior  men 
so  much  as  suspected  the  great  crimes  of  their 
social  society,  even  in  the  best  days,  or  aspired  to 
reform  them."     The  world's  hope,  in  every  rela- 
tion of  life,  is  in  this  old  Bible.     Let  it  have  its 


374 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


place  in  every  workshop  and  counting-house;  let 
it  throw  its  radiance  over  every  home  let  t  be 
enthron.d  in  every  heart.  Jhe^m  ^- .eaUz  d 
a  vision -far  transcending  the  dream  o  the  elo 
quent  and  tuneful  Macaulay  In  h.s  Lays  of 
Atioient  Rome  "  : 


Then  none  was  (or  a  party  ; 

Then  all  were  for  the  state  ; 
Then  the  great  man  helped  the  poor, 

And  the  poor  nn>;»  loved  the  gre^t ; 
Then  lots  were  (airly  portioned  ; 

Then  spoils  were  fairly  sold ; 
Then  Romans  were  like  brothert. 

In  the  br.^vc  days  of  old." 


*WI 


nting-liouse;  let 
honv.  ;  let  it  be 
will  be  vealized 
•earn  of  the  elo- 
i   his    "Lays  of 


the  poor, 
the  gre^t ; 
ned ; 
aid; 
>thert, 


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fliotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

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THE    INDESTRUCTIBLE    VITALITY    OF 
THE   BIBLE. 


IL 


JI|JiU-4|].>iiJWgWIW.^W>ij!  n-iA-.La.um..i,a 


XXII. 

The    Indestructible  Vitality  of   the   Bible. 

The  writer  of  the  epistle  to  the  Hebrews  speaks 
of   the  Word  of   God  as  "quick  and  powerful." 
This  is  striking  language.     The  common  transla- 
tion uses  here  the  old  and  now  almost  obsolete 
Saxon  word  qtdck.     The  word  means  living.     The 
word  translated  powerful  is  in  the  original  ener- 
getic.    It  is  a  word  instinct  with  force,  and  this 
inherent  force  makes  it  powerful  in  its  outward 
manifestation.     The  Word  of  God  is  not  simply 
living,  it  is  life-giving;  it  is  not  simply  vivid,  it 
is  vivifying;  it  is  not  only  vital,  it  is  vivific.    The 
apostle  Peter  expresses  a  similar  thought  when  he 
affirms  that  God's  book  "  liveth  and  abideth  for- 
ever," and  also  that  "  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth 
forever."     There  is  majesty  in  this  description  of 
the  divine  word.     Amid  all   earthly  revelations, 
amid  the  fading  glories  of  earthly  things,  this  book 
abides,  unchanged  and  unchanging.     It  never  loses 
its  power.     It  thus  comes  to  pass  that  the  writers 
in  the  New  Testament  echo  the  eloquent  words  of 
Isaiah  in  his  prophecy  when  he  declares  that  "  the 
word  of  our  God  shall  stand  forever."     Empires 
have  risen  and  fallen,  kings  have  triumphed  and 


a;*k;w.;^w,*- 


378 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


then  have  vanished  from  sight,  but  God's  prom- 
ises are  unfaiUng ;  His  word,  like  Himself,  is  "  the 
same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  forever." 

It  is  endowed  with  immortal  youth,  with  resist- 
less power,  with  unfading  glory;  it  is  more  granit- 
ic than  granite,  more  enduring  than  the  diamond, 
more  unconsumable  than  asbestos.    What  it  is  to- 
day it  has  been  in  all  the  past,  and  will  be  in  all 
the  years  to  com.,  unchanged  and  unchanging. 
Nothing  is  more  remarkable  than  the  contempo- 
raneousness and  indestructibleness  of  the  Word 
of  our  God.     It  is  abreast  to-day  of  the  most 
advanced  commerce,  the  most  developed  science, 
and  the  most  cultured  intellect.     As  well  might 
one  say  that  the  sun  and  moon  had  become  obso- 
lete, as  to  affirm  that  the  Bible  was  obsolete  or 
even  obsolescent.     The  Sermon  on  the  Mount  as 
delivered  by  our  Lord  must  ever  be  in  advance  of 
the  highest  thinking  of  the  greatest  philosophers 
of  the  world.     One  looks  in  vain  for  the  enduring 
monuments  in  the   organizations   of  Minos,  Ly- 
curgus.  and  other  founders  of  systems  and  crea- 
tors of  laws.    Where  are  their  books  to-day?    They 
have  lacked  enduring  vitality.     But  no  tyrant  has 
been  able  to  burn  the  Bible,  no  traditionalism  to 
choke  its  vigorous  growth,  no  heretic  to  corrupt 
its  heavenly  teaching,  and  no  priestly  power  to 
destroy  its  dominant   influence  with   those   who 
hear  gladly  the  words  of  the  Lord.     The  fires  of 
criticism  have  larg-^W  destroyed  the  fables  of  the 


God's  prom- 
(iself ,  is  "  the 

,  with  resist- 
more  granit- 
the  diamond, 
kVhat  it  is  to- 
will  be  in  all 
unchanging. 
he  contempo- 
of  the  Word 
of  the  most 
oped  science, 
Vs  well  might 
become  obso- 
is  obsolete  or 
the  Mount  as 
in  advance  of 
t  philosophers 
r  the  enduring 
of  Minos,  Ly- 
:ems  and  crea- 
to-day  ?    They 
;  no  tyrant  has 
aditionalism  to 
etic  to  corrupt 
estly  power  to 
ith   those   who 
1.     The  fires  of 
,e  fables  of  the 


THE  VITALITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  379 

Shasters  and  the  Koran,  but  from  the  heated  fur- 
nace of  criticism  the  Bible  has  come  forth  uncon- 
sumed  and  unconsumable.     Never  was  its  vitality 
greater  than  it  is  at  this  hour.    Were  it  destroyed, 
much  of  the  happiness  of  the  world  would  wither; 
our  sweetest  hopes,  our  tenderest  relations,  and 
our  brightest  prospects  would  perish  were  this 
book  destroyed.     Its  destruction  would  cloud  the 
scene  of  hope  with  doubt,  fill  life  with  despond- 
ency, and  death  with  despair.     Better  blot  out 
stars,  moon,  and  sun  from  the  natural  sky.  better 
rob  earth's  green  carpet  of  grass  and  plant  and 
flower,  better  take  every  charm  from  home  and 
family,  than  rob  the  world  of  its  noblest  treasure, 
its  brightest  hope,   its  divinest  book,  the  holy 
Bible. 

Resisting  Manifold  Opposition. 

The  Bible  early  came  into  contact  with  that 
strange  milange,  that  almost  indefinable  combina- 
tion of  heathenism  and  Judaism,  mysticism  and 
Christianity,  known  as  Neoplatonism.  This  sys- 
tem of  thought  was  largely  devised  by  Plotinus. 
Porphyry,  lamblichus,  Hypatia,  and  Proclus  were 
its  leading  representatives  in  different  centuries. 
It  was  an  eclectic  philosophy,  and  was  nearly  co- 
eval in  origin  with  Christianity.  Later,  however, 
it  developed  into  a  system  largely  pantheistic,  and 
so  it  became  distinctively  anti-Christian.  At  a 
time  when  asceticism  was  in  great  favor,  and  when 


ill:     "" 


38o 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


mysticism  charmed  many  thoughtful  minds,  this 
system  of  philosophy  possessed  many  attractions. 
Clement,  Origen,  and  other  Christian  writers  show 
some  sympathy  with  it  in  its  earlier  stages.    Many 
causes  combined  to  give  it  popularity.     It  was  a 
time  when  the  old  heathenism  was  losing  its  power, 
and  when  various  systems  of  thought  were  strug- 
gling for  recognition.     Perhaps  its  chief  founder 
was  Ammonius,  called  Saccas  because  of  his  em- 
ployment as  a  corn  porter.     He  is  usually  consid- 
ered the  founder  of  the  Alexandro-Roman  school 
of  Neoplatonism.     He  was  born  of  Christian  par- 
ents, but  being  absorbed  in  the  study  of  heathen 
philosophy,  he  apostatized  from  his  earlier  faith. 
Without  the  advantages  of  broad  culture,  he  de- 
veloped an  enthusiastic  love  of  knowledge,  and  his 
great  abilities  enabled  him  to  overcome  his  earlier 
disadvantages.     Plotinus  was  the  first  fully  to  de- 
velop the  system.     He  was  born  at  Lycopolis,  a 
city  of  Upper  Egypt,  a.d.  205.     A  fundamental 
principle  of  his  philosophy  was  to  gain  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  essence,  the  principle  of  things,  by 
immediate  intuition.     This  system  of  philosophy 
was  long  powerful,  and  at  one  time  it  seemed  as 
if  it  would  become  dominant  even  in  countries 
where  Christianity  had  been  preached.     Porphyry 
became  the  greatest  disciple  of  Neoplatonism  and 
the  most  famous  opponent  of  Christianity.     His 
original  name  was  Malchus,  the  Greek  form  of  the 
Syro- Phoenician  word  Malek,  which  signified  king. 


THE  VITALITY  OF  TTIF.  PIP  IE. 


38t 


il  minds,  this 
ly  attractions. 
I  writers  show 
itages.    Many 
ity.     It  was  a 
>ing  its  power, 
It  were  strug- 
chief  founder 
sc  of  his  em- 
isually  consid- 
Roman  school 
Christian  par- 
dy  of  heathen 
s  earlier  faith, 
lulture,  he  de- 
irledge,  and  his 
)me  his  earlier 
St  fully  to  de- 
,t  Lycopolis,  a 
L  fundamental 
gain  a  knowl- 
of  things,  by 
of  philosophy 
;  it  seemed  as 
\  in  countries 
ed.     Porphyry 
tplatonism  and 
istianity.     His 
:ek  form  of  the 
signified  king. 


He  is  supposed  to  have  been  born  at  Batanaca,  the 
Bashan  of  Scripture,  or,  according  to  other  authori- 
ties, at  Tyre,  a.d.  233,  and  to  have  died  about. 
304,  and  probably  at  Rome.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  he  was  one  of  the  ablest  opponents 
Christianity  has  ever  encountered.  He  was  thor- 
oughly equipped  at  every  point.  He  stands  vastly 
higher  than  Lucian  or  Celsus,  who  had  preced- 
ed him  in  their  opposition  to  Christianity.  They 
treated  Christianity  with  a  sneer  or  a  syllogism ; 
but  he  determined  utterly  to  destroy  it.  He 
boldly  entered  the  arena  to  dethrone  Jesus  Christ. 
But  all  his  opposition  came  utterly  to  an  end.  To- 
day probably  not  one  out  of  every  four  men  of  lib- 
eral education  can  give  a  clear  statement  as  to  his 
personality  or  opposition  to  Christianity.  But  the 
Gospel  lives,  and  Christ  reigns.  Porphyry's  name 
was  an  allusion  to  the  color  of  royal  robes,  but 
Jesus  Christ  and  not  Porphyry  is  king  and  is  en- 
titled to  wear  the  royal  purple.  His  attacks  upon 
Christianity  have  been  overruled  for  good;  they 
have  a  great  interest  and  value  to  the  student  of 
the  inspired  records.  As  already  implied,  he  was 
a  man  of  high  culture  and  of  varied  ability.  Lu- 
cian was  endowed  with  keen  wit,  but  he  was  a 
jester,  attacking  various  philosophies  and  religions 
with  wit  and  ability,  but  apparently  with  little 
sincerity  or  moral  earnestness.  Celsus  has  often 
been  spoken  of,  because  of  his  vulgar  gibes  and 
ribald  remarks,  as  the  Thomas  Paine  of  his  period. 


38  a 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


But  these  elements  are  nowhere  found  in  the  argu- 
ments  of  Porphyry.    Celsua  wrote  a  volume  known 
as  "Logos  ^/.///.."-"The  True  Word.       This 
was  the  first  considerable  polemic  against  Chris- 
tianity     It  was  probably  written  about  150  a.d. 
We  probably  never  should  have  known  anything 
of  this  volume  but  for  the  answer  given  to  it  by 
Origen.  in  his  eight  books  entitled  <'  Contra  Ccl 
sum."     In  answering  the  arguments  of  Celsus  he 
quoted  them  with  great  fulness.     Apparently  he 
did  not  know  the  author  whose  work  he  refuted; 
and  there  is  considerable  doubt  to  this  hour  as  to 
which  one  of  several  men  who  bore  the  name  of 
Celsus  it  was  to  whom  Origen  made  his  reply. 
Porphyry  was  marked  by  broad  scholarship,  an 
elevated  tone,  and  apparent  candor  in  all  his  dis- 
cussions.    He  had  a  warm  attachment  to  the  phi- 
losophy of  his  master.     He  endeavored  to  sur- 
round his  own  system  with  supernatural  elements, 
and  to  disprove  not  simply  the  substance  of  the 
Gospel  teachings,  but  also  the  records  in  which  that 
teaching  is  found.     In  this  respect  his  course  was 
entirely  new.     Those  who  preceded  him  admitted 
with  perfect  frankness  the  genuineness  of  the  Gos- 
pel records;  and  it  is  that  admission  which  trans- 
forms their  opposition  into  an  apologetic  advantage 
for  all  Christian  teachers.     Porphyry  suggested, 
if  he  did  not  originate,  the  method  of  attack  pur- 
sued by  many  of  the  so-called  higher  critics  of  our 
own  day.     His  work  consisted  of  fifteen  books. 


THE  VITALITY  OF  THE  lilBI.E. 


383 


jund  in  the  argu- 
e  a  volume  known 
ie  Word."     This 
lie  against  Chris- 
n  about  150  A.D. 
known  anything 
rer  given  to  it  by 
itled  "  Contra  Ccl 
lents  of  Celsus  he 
s.     Apparently  he 
;  work  he  refuted ; 
to  this  hour  as  to 
bore  the  name  of 
n  made  his  reply, 
ad  scholarship,  an 
idor  in  all  his  dis- 
chment  to  the  phi- 
mdeavored  to  sur- 
ernatural  elements, 
le  substance  of  the 
:cords  in  which  that 
pect  his  course  was 
;eded  him  admitted 
iineness  of  the  Gos- 
nission  which  trans- 
ipologetic  advantage 
'orphyry  suggested, 
2thod  of  attack  pur- 
higher  critics  of  our 
;d  of  fifteen  books, 


but  we  can  discover  information  concerning  only 
five  of  these  books.  He,  as  already  implied,  was 
one  of  ihc  most  brilliant  and  thoroughly  equipped 
opponents  of  Christianity  in  all  the  ages.  But  he 
did  not  destroy  its  vitality.  Its  life  is  still  ener- 
getic, vivific,  immortal. 

Julian,  surnamed  the  Apostate,  because  he  re- 
nounced the  Christian  faith,  also  became  one  of 
the  most  virulent  foes  of  Christianity  and  of  Chris- 
tian records.  He  was  one  of  the  most  earnest  and 
influential  friends  and  patrons  of  Neoplatonism 
and  of  the  old  and  dying  heathen  culture.  Pa- 
thetic elements  enter  into  his  history.  He  was 
trained  under  an  austere,  monastic,  tyrannical,  and 
hypocritical  form  of  belief.  As  he  grew  in  years 
and  knowledge  he  became  an  enthusiastic  admirer 
of  heathen  poets  and  philosophers,  and  an  implac- 
able enemy  of  Christianity.  He  was  a  nephew 
of  Constantine  the  Great.  As  an  apostle  of  the 
heathenism  of  pantheistic  Neoplatonism,  he  deter- 
mined to  restore  the  Graeco- Roman  paganism  and 
to  dethrone  Christianity,  He  claimed  intimate 
personal  intercourse  with  Jupiter,  Apollo,  and 
other  gods;  he  was  vain,  sophistical,  and  loqua- 
cious. When  but  twenty  years  old,  in  the  year 
351,  he  apostatfzed  from  Christianity,  but  for  po- 
litical purposes  he  concealed  with  consummate 
hypocrisy  his  pagan  sympathies  until  the  death  of 
Constantius.  He  developed  great  military  ability; 
and  in  the  year  361  he  openly  declared  his  devo- 


__^J 


3*4 


TItE  OLD  HOOK. 


tion  to  heathenis,,..     For  a  year  and  a  half  he  was 
emperor.     It  will  be  admitted  that  he  was  one  o 
the  most  gifted,  energetic,  and  variously  able  of 
the  Roman  emperors.     His  opposition  to  Chris- 
tianity and  the  Bible  shows  that  paganism  was 
dvinn.  and  that  Christianity  alone  had  m  it  the  he 
of  truth  and  the  hopes  of  humanity.    He  strove  to 
galvanize  a  corpse.     He  was  charmed  by  the  cul^ 
ture  of  Hellenism,  and  in  giving  his  admiration  to 
it  for  its  culture  he  gave  it  devotion  as  a  religion^ 
In  his  book  against  Christianity  he  united  all  the 
arguments  of  Uician.  Celsus.  and  Porphyry,  and 
put  into  his  disquisition  his  own  caustic  spmt 
His  attack  called  forth  able  refutations,  so  that 
his  words  were  powerless  to  destroy  the  Word  of 
God  and  the  Church  of  Christ. 

Julian  has  borne  valuable    testimony   to  the 
Bible.     He  admits  the  birth  of  Christ;  he  wit- 
nesses  to  the  genuineness  and  authenticity  of  the 
four  gospels  and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles ;  and  he 
quotes  them,  showing  that  they  were  received  as  au^ 
Lnticand  authoritative  books  by  the  Christians 
of  his  time.     He  not  only  admits  their  date,  but 
for  his  own  special  argument  emphasizes  the  real- 
ity of  that  date;  he  refers  to  the  epistles  of  Paul 
to  the  Romans  and  the  Galatians;  he  admits  the 
n^iracles  of  Christ.     He.  of  course,  has  his  own 
method  of  accounting  for  these  ^'^^]^^  ^^  ^^^ 
explaining  the  existence  of  the  gospels;  but  his 
admission  of  their  existence  and  authority  is  of 


THE  VITALITY  OF  THE  HI  HIE. 


385 


»d  a  half  he  was 
it  he  was  one  of 
iriously  able  of 
sition  to  Chris- 
t  paganism  was 
had  in  it  the  life 
y.    He  strove  to 
med  by  the  cul- 
lis  admiration  to 
on  as  a  religion, 
tie  united  all  the 
id  Porphyry,  and 
m  caustic  spirit, 
futations,  so  that 
troy  the  Word  of 

testimony  to  the 
[  Christ;  he  wit- 
uthenticity  of  the 
Apostles;  and  he 
^ere  received  as  au- 
by  the  Christians 
its  their  date,  but 
nphasizes  the  real- 
le  epistles  of  Paul 
ns;'  he  admits  the 
mrse,  has  his  own 
36  miracles  and  of 
e  gospels;  but  his 
md  authority  is  of 


the  utmost  value  in  proving  their  genuineness  and 
their  vitality.     He  died  June  26th,  363,  from  an 
arrow  when  at  war  with  the  Persians.     A  later  tra- 
dition tells  us  that  as  his  life-blood  mingled  with 
the  sand  on  which  he  lay,  he  threw  a  handful  of  it 
into  the  air,  exclaiming,  "  O  Galilean !  Thou  hast 
conquered  !  "     Dying  at  the  age  of  thirty-two,  he 
left  a  great  number  of  orations,  letters,  satires,  and 
poems.     His  work   entitled  "Refutation  of   the 
Christian   Religion "  is  lost,  and  he  himself  has 
passed  into  the  shadows,  while  the  glorious  book 
which  he  endeavored  to  destroy  lives  with  an  un- 
destroyable  vitality,  and  an  incalculable  influence 
over  all  the  civilized  nations  of  the  earth.     Why 
did  not  Neoplatonism  set  up  a  religious  commu- 
nity ?     It  had  very  much  in  its  favor.     It  remod- 
elled the  ancient  religions,  and  it  endeavored  to 
make  them  the  exponent  of  a  pure  morality.    Why 
did  it  not  succeed  ?     The  answer  is  indicated  in 
Augustine's  "Confessions":    It  lacked  a  divine 
founder ;  it  had  no  genuine  cure  for  sin,  and  so 
could  not  give  peace  to  troubled  hearts;  and  it 
appealed  chiefly  to  cultured  and  speculative  minds. 
It  could  be  a  school  only  for  the  "  wise  and  pru- 
dent," while  the  common  people  gladly  received 
Christ  and  His  truth. 


as 


386 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


The  Bible  and  Popery. 
The  Roman  Church  in  our  days  aims  to  secure 
the  reputation  of  being  in  sympathy  with  the  Bi- 
ble in  countries  like  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.     But  in  all  countries  where  its  power  is 
well-nigh  supreme,  its  opposition  to  the  Bible  is 
continuous  and  bitter.     The  Council  of  Trent  de- 
clared that  tradition  was  of  equal  authority  with 
the  Bible;  it  maintained  that  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  into  the  vulgar  tongue  was  pro- 
ductive of  evil   rather  than  good,  and  that   the 
people  ought  not  to  read  nor  to  possess  copies 
of  the  Scriptures.     When  Wickliffe  published  his 
translation,  Gregory  condemned   him  for  having 
"  run  into  a  detestable  kind  of  wickedness."     Leo 
X.  published  a  bull  against  Luther  when  he  issued 
his  translation,  and  expressed  his  opposition  in  the 
vilest  terms.     Pius  VIL  and  Gregory  XVL  (the 
latter  as  late  as  1844)  prohibited  the  circulation 
and  reading  of  the  Bible.     The  Roman  Church 
persecuted  Wickliffe  in  his  life  and  endeavored 
to  besmirch  his  name  with  foul  abuse  after  his 
death.     His  bones  were  disinterred  and  his  ashes 
cast  into  the  small  stream  which  flows  past  Lutter- 
worth     Thomas  Fuller  finely  says:   "Thus  the 
brook  conveyed  far  into  the  Avon,  and  the  Avon 
into  the  Severn,  ?nd  the  Severn  into  the  narrow 
seas,  and  they  into  the  main  ocean;  and  so  the 
ashes  of  Wyckliffe  are  the  emblem  of  his  doctrine 


THE  VITALITY  OF  THE  BIPLl-:. 


387 


CRY. 

5  aims  to  secure 
hy  with  the  Bi- 

and  the  United 
»re  its  power  is 
1  to  the  Bible  is 
icil  of  Trent  de- 
.1  authority  with 
le  translation  of 
tongue  was  pro- 
id,  and  that  the 
o  possess  copies 
ffe  published  his 

him  for  having 
ckedness,"     Leo 
;r  when  he  issued 
opposition  in  the 
regory  XVI.  (the 
;d  the  circulation 
;  Roman  Church 
;  and  endeavored 
il  abuse  after  his 
red  and  his  ashes 
flows  past  Lutter- 
says:   "Thus  the 
on,  and  the  Avon 
n  into  the  narrow 
icean;  and  so  the 
em  of  his  doctrine 


which  is  now  dispersed  all  the  world  over."     The 
Roman  Church  burned  hundreds  of  copies  of  Tyn- 
dale's  New  Testament  in  the  churchyard  of  old  St. 
Paul's.     The  Roman  Church  seized  whole  editions 
of  the  Bible  in  the  Flemish,  Hungarian,  and  other 
tongues.     The  hostility  of    that  Church  to  the 
Bible  is  seen  in  the  fact  that  it  has  put  to  death 
thousands  upon  thousands  of  the  devoted  disciples 
of  Jesus  and  the  Bible.     We  have  only  to  witness 
the  unspeakable  cruelties  of  the  Duke  of  Alva  and 
the  Inquisition  in  the  Netherlands  and  ni  Spain 
to  have  conclusive  proof  of  the  opposition  of  that 
Church  to  the  Word  of  God.    We  have  only  to  turn 
to  Its  attitude  today  in   Spain,  in  Cuba,  and  in 
Porto  Rico,  in  the  Philippines  and  all  over  South 
America,  to  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel  and  to  the 
gospels  themselves,  in  order  to  know  what  is  the 
real  heart  and  spirit  of  that  Church     Nevertheless 
it  has  not  destroyed  the  Word  of  God.     Its  vitality 
is  undiminished,  its  glory  is  undimmed,  its  power 
is  unlimited. 

The  Bible  and  Criticism. 
Neither  has  a  pseudo-scientism  been  able  to  de- 
stroy the  vitality  of  the  holy  Scripture.  There  is 
no  opposition  between  a  true  science  and  the  in- 
spired Bible.  Many  of  us  remember  the  alarm 
with  which  we  learned  that  geology  was  opposed 
to  Genesis.  That  alarm  will  never  again  be  expe- 
rienced.    The  Bible  will  adapt  itself  to  the  teach- 


388 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


ings  of  an  assured  science  so  soon  as  those  teach- 
ings are  assured.     We  may  have  to  modify  some 
of  our  interpretations  of  the  Bible,  but  its  divine 
truths  will  remain  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and 
forever.     There  can  be  no  contradiction  between 
God's  revelations  in  creation  and  in  revelation; 
there  may  be  a  contradiction  between  our  interpre- 
tations of  these  revelations,  but  not  between  the 
revelations  themselves.     Let  all  men  possess  their 
souls  in  perfect  patience.     God's  book  will  abide 
in  all  the  ages  to  come,  as  it  has  withstood  every 
form  of  opposition  in  the  ages  that  are  past. 

No  form  of  criticism  can  destroy  the  vitality  of 
this  divine  word.  The  breath  of  the  Eternal  is  in 
its  truths,  and  the  power  of  the  Almighty  is  in  its 
words.  We  know  that  when  it  was  brought  to  bear 
upon  two  such  unbelievers  as  Gilbert  West  and 
Lord  Littleton,  it  brought  both  under  the  control 
of  its  heavenly  spirit  and  divine  truth.  They 
became  infidels  from  a  superficial  acquaintance 
with  the  Bible.  They  agreed  to  expose  what  they 
called  the  imposture  of  the  book.  Mr.  West  se- 
lected as  the  special  object  of  his  attack  the  resur- 
rection of  Christ,  and  Lord  Littleton  chose  the 
conversion  of  Paul.  They  entered  earnestly  upon 
their  work,  filled  with  contempt  for  Christianity, 
and  moved  by  hostility  to  the  Bible.  When  they 
came  together  to  compare  notes  of  their  progress, 
they  lamented  their  former  unbelief,  and  congratu- 
lated each  other  that  they  had  received  new  light 


THE   VTTALITY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 


389 


1  as  those  teach- 
to  modify  some 
e,  bvit  its  divine 
rday,  to-day,  and 
adiction  between 
id  in  revelation; 
■cen  our  interpre- 
not  between  the 
men  possess  their 
s  book  will  abide 
1  withstood  every 
at  are  past, 
•oy  the  vitality  of 
the  Eternal  is  in 
\lmighty  is  in  its 
as  brought  to  bear 
jilbert  West  and 
under  the  control 
ine  truth.     They 
cial  acquaintance 
expose  what  they 
k.     Mr.  West  se- 
s  attack  the  resur- 
ittleton  chose  the 
red  earnestly  upon 
;  for  Christianity, 
tible.     When  they 
of  their  progress, 
lief,  and  congratu- 
received  new  light 


and  life.  Each  wrote  an  able  treatise  in  defence 
of  the  Christian  faith.  The  Bible  need  fear  no 
honest  criticism,  no  sincere  opposition,  no  earnest 
spirit  of  inquiry  after  truth.  The  so-called  higher 
criticism  has  enabled  us  to  correct  some  traditional 
errors,  and  to  discover  valuable  methods  of  inquiry ; 
but  we  must  guard  against  its  hasty  conclusions, 
its  unwarranted  assumptions,  and  its  unfair  meth- 
ods. Were  the  orations  of  Chatham,  Burke,  Pitt, 
Webster,  or  Clay  subjected  to  the  methods  of 
analysis  and  criticism  often  employed  upon  the 
\yord  of  God,  they  v.'ould  become  meaningless  far- 
ragos. A  similar  method  of  criticism  has  actually 
been  applied  to  various  human  productions,  show- 
ing how  vicious  is  the  method  and  how  untrust- 
worthy are  the  results.  A  recent  writer  applied 
the  methods  of  the  higher  criticism  to  Burns'  poem, 
"  To  a  Mountain  Daisy. "  This  writer  conclusively 
proves,  if  we  grant  the  correctness  of  this  method 
of  criticism,  that  the  first  five  stanzas  of  that  beau- 
tiful poem  were  not  composed  by  Bums ;  he  also 
shows  by  the  same  method  that  the  next  three 
stanzas  were  certainly  composed  by  another  man 
than  Burns,  and  he  proves  that  the  last  is  of  very 
doubtful  authorship.  All  through  this  process  of 
criticism  he  freely  uses  Professor  Driver's  phrases 
in  his  article  on  Genesis.  One  grows  utterly  weary 
of  this  method  of  criticism.  The  polychrome  Bible 
fails  to  give  certainty.  One  critic  makes  one  color 
stand  for  one  authority,  and  another  for  another ; 


»M««Bnw.wS'j^!A*W«»ti 


2^o  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

Ae„  comes  another  critic  and  he  --''y  ^J^';' 
the  colors  of  the  former  cr,t,c,  and  the  earnest 
fe:d:r  turns  with  no  ""'f 'ndignatU,n  sa^-n.      A 

p,a^e  on  '»''', /"-tr  U  wm  In  be  over, 
crit  cism  is  having  its  day.      " 
Already  the  pendulum  is  swinging  toward     sm 
Xr  life  a  purer  faith,  and  a  warmer  zeal.     Pro- 
So    slyce'has  recently  affirmed  that  the  spade 
to  demolish  many  of  the  -elusions  of  philoU 
„r.  that  the  tablets  in  the  mam  establish  the 
St ional  rather  than  the  later  critical  view  of 
he  0°d  Testament  records;  that  he  has  come   n^ 
tely  to  disbelieve  in  the  later  opinions  regarding 
,l7pentateuch;  that  he  believes  it  belongs  to  the 
'roslLtg^andwaschieflywrittenbyM^ses; 

that,  finally,  the  literary  analysis  of  the  Bible  «  an 
utterly  un^e  method  of  reaching  resul.s.  Thus 
hlmistrusts  the  conclusions  of  the  higher  cr  c^^ 
Professor  Hamack  has  also  "'«f  ^^  P'"'^' 
against  many  of  the  conclusions  of  these  critics 
Sessor  Jostermann,  of  the  University  of  Kie  , 
I^^^urdy  critical  grounds,  "PPo-s  «he  'econjuuc- 

Sw^."nrerrr.::a::tr;°the  divine 

vitality  of  this  inspired  book. 

Thil  book  has  also  resisted  every  form  of  evd 
that  has  ever  appeared  in  the  hnn-an  heart.     Sa 


exactly  reverses 
and  the  earnest 
ition,  saying :  "  A 
This  method  of 
will  soon  be  over, 
ing  toward  a  sim- 
rarmer  zeal.     Pro- 
;d  that  the  spade 
elusions  of  philol- 
nain  establish  the 
er  critical  view  of 
Lt  he  has  come  en- 
opinions  regarding 
IS  it  belongs  to  the 
:ten  by  Moses ;  and 
is  of  the  Bible  is  an 
ling  results.     Thus 
;  the  higher  critics, 
uttered  his  protest 
,ns  of  these  critics. 
University  of  Kiel, 
)Oses  the  reconstruc- 
1  made  by  Wellhau- 
sists  that   both  the 
;llhausen  are  utterly 
)f  the  most  virulent 
0  destroy  the  divine 

cd  every  form  of  evil 
ic  h'.m-ian  heart.     Sa- 


r//£  VITALITY  OF  THE  BIBLE.  391 

tanism  in  every  age  has  opposed  its  progress,  but 
has  not  destroyed  its  vitality.  Hedonism  has  en- 
deavored to  sap  its  vitality,  and  thus  to  rob  it  of 
its  power ;  but  it  moves  on  in  its  resistless  prog- 
ress, and  exercises  its  heavenly  sway.  We  thank 
God  that  it  is  living  and  energetic,  and  that  it 
shall  stand  forever. 


1 


THE    IRREFUTABLE    EVIDENCES    OF 
THE   BIBLE. 


J. 


XXIII. 

The  Irrefutable  Evidences  of  the  Bible. 

Nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  the  apostle 
Peter  told  the  literal  truth  when  he  said:  "We 
have  not  followed  cunningly  devised  fables  when 
we  made  known  unto  you  the  power  and  coming 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  were  eye-witnesses 
of  His  majesty."     It  is  equally  certain  that  we 
have  not  followed  cunningly  devised  fables  when 
we  have  given  our  unfailing  faith  to  the  truth  of 
the  Word  of  God.     It  is  impossible  to  overestimate 
the  influence  of  the  Bible  directly  upon  human 
minds  and  hearts,  and  indirectly  through  the  fine 
arts  and  the  noblest  forms  of  literature.     All  who 
are  well  informed  must  admit,  as  already  hinted, 
that  the  poetry  of  the  Bible  was  the  formative  in- 
fluence in  the  poetry  of  Milton,  Dante,  Tasso,  and 
scores  more  in  ea^:lier  and  later  times.     It  has 
given  birth  to  the  heavenward  tendencies  in  archi- 
tecture, painting,  and  music;  it  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  it  has  created  a  Christian  and  even  a 
Biblical  school  of  art.     We  know  that  it  exercised 
a  great  influence  over  the  minds  of  men  who 
because  of  their  ability  and  position  exercise,  in 
turn,  a  vast  influence  over  their  fellowmen.     John 


39^ 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Quincy  Adams,  the  sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  and  son  of  the  second  President,  a  man  who 
in  his  boyhood  was  the  companion  of  his  father  on 
an  embassy  to  Europe,  and  who  passed  a  consider- 
able portion  of  his  earlier  years  in  Paris,  at  The 
Hague,  and  also  in  London,  and  who  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  association  with  the  best  educated 
men  of  his  time,  as  well  as  the  training  received 
in  Harvard  in  the  study  of  law,— makes  this  state- 
ment in  regard  to  his  habits  of  reading  the  Bible : 
"  I  have  for  many  years  made  it  a  practice  to  read 
through  the  Bible  once  a  year.     My  custom  is  to 
read  four  or  five  chapters  every  morning  immedi- 
ately after  rising  from  my  bed.     It  employs  about 
an  hour  of  my  time,  and  seems  to  be  the  most 
suitable  manner  of  beginning  the  day."     In  what 
light  soever  we  regard  the  Bible,  whether  with 
reference  to  revelation,  to  history,  or  to  morality, 
it  is  an   invaluable  and   inexhaustible   mine  of 
knowledge  and  virtue.     Daniel  Webster  was  no 
less  influential  in  many  respects,  and  is  no  less 
high  an  authority  regarding  the  Bible  than  John 
Quincy  Adams.     Without  doubt  Mr.  Webster  was 
one  of  the  ablest  forensic  debaters,  as  he  was 
admittedly  the  greatest  expounder  of  the  Ameri- 
can Constitution  which  this  country  has  yet  pro- 
duced.    We  are  warranted  in  saying  that  the  civil 
war  was  fought  to  determine  whether  Daniel  Web- 
ster's interpretations  of  the  Constitution,  or  those 
of  John  C.  Calhoun,  were  correct.     Mr.  Webster's 


of  the  United 
;nt,  a  man  who 
f  his  father  on 
ied  a  consider- 
i  Paris,  at  The 
lO  enjoyed  the 

best  educated 
lining  received 
akes  this  state- 
ling  the  Bible : 
Dractice  to  read 
[y  custom  is  to 
)rning  immedi- 
;  employs  about 
0  be  the  most 
day."  In  what 
!,  whether  with 

or  to  morality, 
istible  mine  of 
Vebster  was  no 

and  is  no  less 
Bible  than  John 
Jlr.  Webster  was 
ters,  as  he  was 
r  of  the  Ameri- 
try  has  yet  pro- 
ng that  the  civil 
her  Daniel  Web- 
:itution,  or  those 
Mr.  Webster's 


IRREFUTABLE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  BIBLE,  397 

influence  will  be  contemporaneous  with  the  history 
of  the  Bible  itself ;  and  this  is  the  testimony  which 
he  gives  to  the  value  of  the  Bible  in  his  own  expe- 
rience :  "  From  the  time  that,  at  my  mother's  feet, 
or  on  my  father's  knee,  I  first  learned  to  lisp  verses 
from  the  sacred  writings,  they  have  been  my  daily 
study  and  my  vigilant  contemplation.     If  there  be 
anything  in  my  style  or  thoughts  to  be  commend- 
ed, the  credit  is  due  to  my  kind  parents  in  instill- 
ing into  my  mind  an  early  love  of  the  Scriptures." 
The  foremost  man  in  all  the  world  during  the  last 
quarter  of   the  nineteenth  century  was  William 
Ewart  Gladstone,     He  was  the  uncrowned  king  of 
Great  Britain,  and  in  many  respects  of  the  whole 
world.     Among  his  last  works  is  his  volume  en- 
titled,  "The  Impregnable  Rock  of  Holy  Scrip- 
ture "     He  was  as  earnest  in  his  devotion  to  the 
Word  of  God  as  he  was  profound  in  reasoning,  ear- 
nest in  religion,  and  brilliant  in  eloquence.     It  is 
safe  to  say  that  the  great  thinkers  of  the  world  are 
on  the  side  of  the  Bible  and  Christianity.     This 
statement  will  bear  the  most  searching  analysis  as 
applied  to  the  greatest  men  in  every  portion  of  the 
civilized  world.     We  cannot   too  strongly  insist 
upon  the  influence  of  the  Bible  in  developing  the 
noblest  powers  of  mind  and  heart  on  the  part  of 
all  its  earnest  disciples.     It  is  in  itself  a  marvel 
among  the  literary  productions  of  the  human  race; 
all  that  is  deepest,  highest,  wisest,  sweetest,  and 
holiest  in  the  literature  of  the  world  has  been  in- 


39* 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


spired  by  the  Bible.      It  is  the  cornerstone  on 
which  rest  modern  learning  and  civihzation.     It 
lies  beneath  all  our  great  colleges  and  universities, 
and  is  the  text-book  of  poets  and  philosophers, 
authors  and  statesmen,  students   and   sages.     It 
is  of  the  utmost  importance,  therefore,  that  we 
should  be  able  fully  to  affirm  that  the  evidences  of 
its  divine  origin  and  of   its  lofty   character  are 
irrefutable. 

Internal  Evidence. 

In  an  earlier  chapter  attention  was  called  to  the 
historical  evidence  as  to  the  genuineness  and 
authenticity  of  Holy  Scripture;  we  turn  at  this 
point  to  the  internal  evidence. 

This  form  of  evidence,  within  its  appropriate 
sphere,  is  unanswerable.     The  number  who  can 
master  the  arguments  of  Paley.  Butler.  Lardner. 
and  others  of  their  class  is  necessarily  compara- 
tively small;   but  all  thoughtful  readers  of  the 
Bible  can  appreciate  the   force   of    its   internal 
evidence  to  its  own  absolute  truth.      The  Bible 
readily   and   conclusively,  by   this  kind  of   evi- 
dence,  vindicates  its  claim  to  be  a  revelation  from 
God      It  bears  its  credentials  on  its  own  pages. 
The  simplicity  of  its  statements,  the  evident  hon- 
esty of  its  purpose,  and  the  sincerity  of  its  motives 
are  too  plain  not  to  be  discovered  even  by  cursory 
readers.     Its  unity  from  Genesis  to  Revelation  is 
an  irresistible  argument  in  favor  of  its  divine  au- 


=»>/<>■  HL»"i««wsgwWi 


J 


ornerstone  on 
ivilization.  It 
id  universities, 
I  philosophers, 
incl  sages.  It 
reforc,  that  we 
he  evidences  of 
character  are 


?as  called  to  the 
»nuineness  and 
ive  turn  at  this 

its  appropriate 
lumber  who  can 
Butler,  Lardner, 
issarily  compara- 
[  readers  of  the 

of  its  internal 
uth.  The  Bible 
lis  kind  of  evi- 
a  revelation  from 
in  its  own  pages. 

the  evident  hon- 
rity  of  its  motives 
1  even  by  cursory 
}  to  Revelation  is 

of  its  divine  au- 


IRKEFUrART.E  KVIDEXCES  rr  THE  Hint H.    199 

thorship.     It  is  immediately  discovcf  tbie  anrl  ab 
soliitcly  irrefutable  that  one  mind  dominated  its 
thought  through  all  its  books  and  through  all  the 
centuries  of  its  composition.     Its  writers  number 
perhaps  forty;  the  period  of  its  composition,  as 
already  intimated  in  these  chapters,  is  more  than 
sixteen    hundred   years.     Its  writers  represented 
men  in  many  social  positions  and  of  variant  de 
grees  of  intellectual  culture  and  spiritual  attain 
ment ;  and  yet  there  is  no  play  of  Shakespeare,  no 
poem  of  Milton  or  of  Tennyson,  more  marked  by 
the  spirit  of  unity  than  is  the  Bible.     This  unity 
is  the  more  ob.servable  when  we  remember  the 
great  changes  which  took  place  from  the  time  its 
composition  was  begun  to  that  when  it  ended. 
Dynasties  ro.se  and  fell,  civilizations  appeared  and 
retired,  and  many  legal  codes  were  promulgated 
and  forgotten  during  the  period  of  its  composi 
tion.     Its   later   writers   had   but   an   inadequate 
knowledge  of  the  language  and  civilization  of  its 
earlier  writers.     We  often  fail  to  appreciate  the 
force  of  these  statements ;  we  have  only  to  apply 
them  to  matters  within  our  own  time  and  civiliza- 
tion to  understand  the  force  of   this  argument. 
Really  we  think  of  Moses  and  David  as  both  sim- 
ply ancient  writers ;  we  forget  that  Moses  was  as 
much  earlier  than  David  as  Chaucer  is  earlier  than 
Tennyson  or  Longfellow.     When  David  wrote  the 
twenty-third  p.salm,  the  ninetieth  psalm,  written 
by  Moses,  was  already  ancient  literature.     That 


400 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


psalm  is  certainly  one  of  the  noblest  and  sub. 
limest   of   human   compositions;    it   is   profound 
in  its  religious  emotion,  lofty  in  its  theological 
thought,  and  simply  magnificent  in  its  imagery. 
That  psalm  is  certainly  one  of  the  oldest  poems 
of  the  world.     Compared  with  it  the  writings  of 
Homer  and  Pindar  are  virtually  modern,  and  the 
greater   part   of   the   Psalter   is   of   recent   date. 
These  are  facts  worthy  of  great  emphasis  in  con- 
nection with  the  argument  now  illustrated. 

The  revelation  of  the  character  of  God  given  us 
in  the  Bible  is  another  internal  evidence  of  its 
truth      The  greatest  minds  of  ancient  and  modern 
times  have  striven  to  give  us  definitions  of  God. 
Who  is  God?     How  can  He  be  understood?     Is 
He  utterly  incomprehensible?     These   are  ques- 
tions which  have  always  been  urged,  and  which 
never  were  satisfactorily  answered  until  the  an^ 
swer  was  found  in  the  Scriptures.     We  are  told 
that  Simonides,  the  heathen  poet,  being  asked  by 
Hiero,  king  of  Syracuse,  the  question.     What  is 
God>"  desired    two  days  to  prepare  his  reply. 
At  the  end  of  two  days  he  postponed  his  reply  for 
two  days  more.     His  reply  was  not  forthcoming 
at  the  expiration  of  that  time,  and  his  final  re- 
sponse to  the  king  was :  "  The  more  \think  of  God 
He  is  still  the  more  unknown  to  me.       The  bible 
gives  us  the  reply  which  no  man  of  mere  human 
understanding  could  ever  furnish.    God  is  revealed 
in  the  Bible  in  His  omnipotence,  omniscience,  and 


loblest  and  sub- 
it   is   profound 
n  its  theological 
;  in  its  imagery, 
the  oldest  poems 
it  the  writings  of 
modern,  and  the 
of   recent   date, 
emphasis  in  con- 
illustrated. 
;r  of  God  given  us 
al  evidence  of  its 
ncient  and  modern 
definitions  of  God. 
e  understood?     Is 
These   are  ques- 
i  urged,  and  which 
ered  until  the  an 
ires.     We  are  told 
tet,  being  asked  by 
question,  "  What  is 
prepare  his  reply, 
tponed  his  reply  for 
IS  not  forthcoming 
e,  and  his  final  re- 
more  I  think  of  God, 
to  me."     The  Bible 
man  of  mere  human 
sh.    God  is  revealed 
ice,  omniscience,  and 


IRREFUTABLE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  BIBLE.  401 

immaculate  holiness,  but  He  is  especially  revealed 
as  Father  and  Redeemer.     He  is  made  known  to 
us  as  possessing  and  manifesting  a  father's  pity, 
and  as   bestowing  upon  us  a  mother's  comfort. 
Touching  all  the  deepest  questions  of  human  life, 
the  Bible  gives  its  clear  and  inspiring  response. 
It  is  its  own  light;  it  manifests  its  own  life  and 
light,  and  in  that  life  and  light  it  manifests  also 
the  life  and  light  of  all  persons  and  things  be- 
sides.    When  the  sun  is  shining  in  the  heavens 
in  its  meridian  splendor,  we  need  no  witness  to 
testify  to  its  presence  and  power;  it  is  its  own 
witness.     The  Bible  is  the  sun  in  the  firmament 
of  literature,  filling  all  the  heavens  and  earth  of 
human  thought  with  its  celestial  light.     We  know 
one  man  from  another  by  the  distinctive  features 
of  each  man's  face  and  voice ;  by  the  eye  and  by 
the  ear  we  detect  distinguishing  characteristics, 
and  discover  distinct   personalities.     Not   other- 
wise is  it  in  the  Word  of  God.     We  know  our 
Father's  voice  as  revealed  in  His  Word.      It  finds 
its  echo  In  our  deepest  souls.     The  harmony  which 
pervades  the  Bible  is  most  evident  from  the  first 
sublime  words  of  Genesis  to  the  last  loving  invi- 
tations of  Revelation.     We  cannot  misunderstand 
its  harmony,  its  unity,  beauty,  and  blessed  signifi- 
cance.    It  thus  comes  to  pass  that  the  writers  in 
the  later  books  are  confirmatory  of  those  in  the 
earlier  books.     A  collection  of  literary  or  political 

pamphlets  prepared  by  uninspired  men  and  bound 
26 


403 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


together  In  one  volume,  even  though  ^^^^^"^ 
oeriod  of  only  one  hundred  years  instead  of  sixteen 
tan^^  years,  as  does  the  Bible,  would  he  a  ,uin- 
hle  o  ho'peles;  and  often  even  '"^icrous  conf„-n 
But  here  is  a  book,  lofty  in  its  thought,  spiritual 
Tits  mo  ive,  and  absolutely  harmonious  in  . 
H^^  teaching  in  all  its  parts  through  all 
the  centuries. 

Responsive  Evidence. 
One  branch  of  strong  evidence  is  the  adaptive^ 
ness  of  the  Bible  to  the  wants  of  men  xn  all  the 
^g     of  history.     The  apostle  Paul  speakso    th« 
preacher  of  the  Gospel  co-men^-f  h,mself  to 
every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God.      Ihe 
eTwe  commends  itself  in  this  way  m  a  1  pUc  s  and 
in  all  ages.     Nothing  can  surpass  its  ability  in 
LCrd;,and.hischarac.«is.ic^^^^^^^^^ 
ICtlTeT     as  well  as  to  the  rich,  to  the 
t^  I't^^Urto  the  learned,  to  the  tatarian 
af  well  as  to  the  cultured.     It  is  equally  adapted 
^o  men  of  all  professions.     It  is  interesting  to  re 
mter  how  many  professions  are  represented  in 
rme-dprofessions  often  apparently  con^ 

Victory  to  one  another,  and  yet  represented  i" 
tradictory  ^.^  ^  ^  shepherd 

I'^rSng'^w  havrPeter  as  a  fisherman,  a  dis^ 
'ci^Ca^n  apostle;  we  have  L-^e  as  the  belov^ 
physician;    Zaccheus  as  the  envied  and  hated. 


atsffli^*  ■*>' 


IRREFUTABLE  E  VIDENCES  OF  THE  BIBLE.  403 


ley  ccver  a 
I  of  sixteen 
1  be  a  jum- 
5  confusion, 
ht,  spiritual 
lious  in  its 
through  all 


:he  adaptive- 
m  in  all  the 
ipeaks  of  the 
r  himself  to 
>f  God.     The 
all  places  and 
its  ability  in 
\  an  argument 
,k  thoroughly 
le  rich,  to  the 
the  barbarian 
qually  adapted 
cresting  to  re- 
represented  in 
pparently  con- 
represented  in 
1  as  a  shepherd 
iherman,  a  dis- 
e  as  the  beloved 
ied  and   hated, 


and  yet  penitent  and  honored  publican.  We  have 
Dorcas  who  plied  her  needle  for  the  poor,  and  thus 
secured  an  immortality  more  enduring  than  that 
of  Grecian  poets  or  Roman  warriors.  We  have  the 
peerless  Paul  as  tent-maker,  traveller,  preacher, 
and  apostle.  We  have  Zenas  the  lawyer,  Oncsi- 
mus  the  slave,  Philemon  the  master,  Erastus  the 
Roman  chamberlain,  and  many  more,  representing 
various  industrial  pursuits  and  professional  em- 
ployments. The  Bible  was  exactly  the  book 
which  each  needed  to  guide  him  in  daily  duty,  to 
fit  him  for  successful  service,  and  to  teach  him  of 
God  and  heaven. 

The  Bible  is  also  prepared  to  give  all  men  mental 
development.  It  is  as  much  at  home  with  the 
illiterate  serf  as  it  is  with  the  most  literate  philos- 
opher. It  abounds  in  flowery  gardens,  beautiful 
landscapes,  meandering  brooks.  Alpine  heights, 
and  heavenly  glories.  It  is  responsive  to  the  as- 
pirations of  youth,  to  the  virility  of  manhood,  and 
to  the  senility  of  extreme  age.  It  places  before 
the  aspiring  mind  of  man  broad  prospects,  radi- 
ant possibilities,  and  high  and  holy  ambitions.  It 
sweetens  poverty  and  sanctifies  sorrow ;  it  purifies 
wealth  and  ennobles  joy.  It  is  the  guide  of  inex- 
perienced youth,  and  is  also  a  staff  to  men  of  palsied 
hands  and  tottering  limbs.  It  is  a  crown  of  glory 
alike  to  the  light-hearted  child  and  the  hoary- 
headed  man  or  woman.  It  is  filled  with  lessons 
of  instruction  and  help  for  all  the  relationships  of 


404 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


life  and  family.     It  makes  conjugal  love  reminis- 
cent of  Eden  and  prophetic  of  heaven.     It  gives 
wisdom  to  parenthood  and  reverence  to  childhood; 
it  guides  citizens  in  all  their  relations,  and  teaches 
all  classes  and  conditions  of  men  both  the  father- 
hood of  God  and   the  brotherhood  of  men.     It 
comes  to  men  conscious  of  weakness  and  sin,  with 
promises  of  pardon,  help,  and  hope.     It  has  dai  y 
help  for  the  souls  of  men  as  it  promises  daily 
food  for  their  bodies.     It  is  impossible  to  over- 
estimate its  adaptations  to  all  the  varying  conditions 
and  relationships  of  life.     It  lifts  all  men  into  a 
sense  of  repose,  as  they  are  led  to  trust  in  God  as 
their  souls'  help  and  hope.     It  shows  us  that  men 
need  God  before  they  can  ever  have  true  rest;  it 
shows  us  that  in  His  bosom  alone  is  the  reiwse 
which  the  weary  heart  seeks.     It  makes  manifest 
to  us  not  only  that  man  needs  God,  but  that  also 
in  some  sense  God  needs  man.     Christ  s  happi- 
ness  He  Himself  clearly  implied,  would  not  be 
complete   in  heaven   until  His  disciples  shared 
its  blessedness  and  beheld  with  Him  His  glory. 
Nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  it  is  equally 
needed  by  and  adapted  to  the  Greenlander  on  his 
icy  mountains   and  to   the   Indian   on  his  cora 
strands;  the  Hottentot  of  South  Africa  needs  it 
and  will  be  blessed  by  it,  as  truly  as  a  Bacon,  a 
Locke,  an  Addison,  or  a  Gladstone.     In  this  re- 
spect this  glorious  book  is  unique  in  the  libraries 
of  the  world.     It  is  a  striking  fact  that  when  the 


i 


>ve  reminis- 
i.  It  gives 
)  childhood ; 
and  teaches 

the  father- 
of  men.     It 
ind  sin,  with 
It  has  daily 
omises  daily 
h\e  to  over- 
ig  conditions 
I  men  into  a 
ist  in  God  as 
',  us  that  men 

true  rest ;  it 
IS  the  repose 
ikes  manifest 
but  that  also 
hrist's  happi- 
would  not  be 
iciples  shared 
m  His  glory. 
;  it  is  equally 
nlander  on  his 

on  his  coral 
k.frica  needs  it 
as  a  Bacon,  a 
In  this  re- 
in the  libraries 
that  when  the 


IRREFUTABLE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  PIHI.E.  405 

late  Dr.  Dean  was  laboring  as  a  missionary  among 
the  Chinese,  and  had  read  to  his  heathen  congrega- 
tion the  first  chapter  of  Romans,  an  intelligent 
Chinese  came  to  him  declaring  that  Dr.  Dean  had 
written  that  chapter  after  he  had  observed  the  sin- 
ful habits  of  the  people  among  whom  he  was  labor- 
ing. It  was  difficult  to  convince  this  Chines©  that 
this  book  had  been  written  in  another  country  and 
hundreds  of  years  before.  It  seemed  absolutely 
certain  to  him  that  the  missionary  had  written  it 
himself  after  he  had  learned  all  about  the  Chinese 
in  his  great  parish.  The  experience  of  this  Chin- 
ese is  simply  that  of  thousands  more  in  all  parts  of 
the  world  and  in  all  periods  in  the  development  of 
Christianity.  Coleridge  expressed  a  great  truth 
when  he  said  of  God's  law,  "  It  finds  me  " ;  and 
an  unlettered  man,  who  knew  God  by  a  deep  re- 
ligious experience,  expressed  a  similar  thought  in 
•  saying,  "  I  know  the  Bible  is  true  because  I  am 
well  acquainted  with  its  Author." 

Prophetico- Historical  Evidence. 

Prophecy  is  the  revelation  of  future  events  with 
a  clearness  and  certainty  not  possible  by  unaided 
human  judgment.  These  revelations  were  given 
sometimes  in  dreams  and  visions,  and  sometimes 
audibly  to  the  ear  of  the  prophet.  Sometimes 
also  God  took  entire  possession  of  the  prophet's 
mind  and  brain.  Very  marvellous  are  the  fulfil- 
ments of  divine  prophecy,  as  both  prophecy  and 


'i 


■^  Id  vi.'7:sa7A*5wasi^.^-*;-nff 


4o6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


fulfilment  are  recorded  on  the  page  of  revelation 
In  this  paragraph  I  shall  be  indebte    to  Mr   WU^ 
liam   Walters  as  he  has    enumerated   both     he 
prophecies  and  their  fulfilments  »"  ^-J'^^^^^  ' 
"Claims  of  the  Bible."     Ammon.  Moab.  Phihs- 
tia  and  Edom  were  nations  bordering  on  Judea. 
While  they  were  still  in  the  height  of  their  pros- 
perity, their  utter  destruction  was  f oreto  d     Upon 
all  these  nations  Amos  threatened  the  judgments 
of  God.    Zephaniah  foretold  the  run.  of  Moab  and 
Ammon;  Jeremiah  pictures  in  striking  language 
the  destruction  of  Edom.  and  Ezekiel.  Isaiah  and 
Obadiah  unite  in  similar  predictions.     Have  these 
prophecies  been  fulfilled  ?     A  single  glance  at  the 
facts  furnishes  the  conclusive   evidence  of  tha 
fulfilment.     Where  are  the  Ammonites  to-day. 
Have  not  both  they  and  their  cities   been  de- 
stroyed?    Ezekiel  foretold  that  Rabbah.  the  me- 
tropolis of  the  Amorites.  should  become  a  stable 
for  camels,  and  comparatively  recently  a  distin- 
guished traveller  actually  found  a  party  of  Arabs 
stabline  their  camels  among   these  ruins.     The 
Moabites  also  have  perished;   Philistia  has  per- 
ished.  although  when  the  prophets  declared  its 
doom  it  enjoy'ed  great  prosperity.     For  many  ages 
these  cities  were  eminent  in  commerce  but  they 
have  long  since  fallen.     Once  Nmeveh  was  the 
great  capital  of  the  Eastern  empire.       ts  walls 
Le  sixty  miles  in  compass,  one  hundred  f eet  Ingb 
^d  strengthened  by  fifteen  hundred  towers.    1  hree 


revelation, 
)  Mr.  Wil- 

both  the 
is  booklet, 
ab,  Philis- 

on  Judea. 

their  pros- 
old.    Upon 

judgments 
if  Moab  and 
ig  language 

Isaiah,  and 

Have  these 
;lance  at  the 
;nce  of  that 
ites  to-day? 
es  been  de- 
bah,  the  me- 
)me  a  stable 
ttly  a  distin- 
irty  of  Arabs 

ruins.     The 
stia  has  per- 

declared  its 
or  many  ages 
:rce,  but  they 
leveh  was  the 
re.  Its  walls 
dred  feet  high, 
owers.    Three 


IRREFUTABLE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  BIBLE.  407 

chariots  might  have  driven  abreast  on  these  walls. 
The  book  of  Jonah  tells  us  of  its  vast  population 
and  also  of  its  great  wickedness.     The  prophecy 
of  Nahum  is  greatly  occupied  with  the  "  burden 
of  Nineveh."     Zephaniah  described  its  complete 
destruction.     What  was  the  result  ?     In  the  year 
606  B.C.  Nineveh  was  destroyed.     For  long  years 
its  very  site  was  unknown.     Now  Layard,  Botta, 
Smith,  and  other  travellers  have  explored  its  heaps 
of  ruins.     In  the  case  of  Babylon  we  have  another 
striking  example  of  prophecy.     Herodotus,  Xeno- 
phon,  Pliny,  and  other  profane  writers  describe  its 
ancient  greatness.     Isaiah  delivered  his  prophecy 
against  it  one  hundred  and  sixty  years  before  its 
fall.    Babylon  was  then  only  rising  into  greatness. 
When  Jeremiah  prophesied,  Babylon   was   "the 
glory  of  kingdoms,  the  praise  of  the  whole  earth." 
Nebuchadnezzar  had  enlarged  and  beautified  it. 
But  its  destruction  came  on  apace.     For  the  night 
in  which  Belshazzar  was  slain  and  Cyrus  captvred 
the  city,  its  glory  departed.     Strabo  speaks  of  it 
in  his  time  as  a  vast  solitude,  and  Jerome  in  his 
day  as  a  home  for  beasts. 

Striking  also  is  the  illustration  of  the  fulfilment 
of  prophecy  in  the  case  of  Tyre.  This  city  was 
situated  at  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea.  It  was  long  a  commercial  city  of  the 
highest  importance.  Tyrian  purple  was  celebrated 
in  Greece  even  in  the  age  of  Homer.  When  Tyre 
was  in  its  full   prosperity,   Ezekiel  uttered  his 


\\ 


4o8 


THE  OLD  ROOK. 


prophecy  of  its  fall.  Isaiah,  Jeremiah,  Amos,  and 
Zephaniah  all  unite  with  Ezekiel  in  foretelling  its 
overthrow.  These  predictions  are  most  minute. 
Ezekiel  records  their  complete  fulfiltfient.  Tyre 
is  now  only  a  heap  of  ruins,  visited  by  the  boats 
of  poor  fishermen  whose  nets  are  spread  out  on 
the  rocks  in  the  vicinity  and  on  its  ruined  walls, 
as  was  minutely  foretold. 

It  would  be  easy  to  multiply  greatly  these  illus- 
trations regarding  the  detailed  prophecies  of  the 
Old  Testament  and  their  literal  fulfilment  as  testi- 
fied to  by  historians  and  travelleis  in  our  own  day. 
It  is  utterly  impossible  to  explain  the  exactness  of 
these  fulfilments  except  as  we  understand  the  Bible 
to  be  the  book  of  God  alike  in  prophecy  and  his- 
tory. Here  stands  God.  Deny  the  inspiration  of 
the  Bible,  and  these  prophecies  and  their  fulfilments 
are  inexplicable. 

Experimental  Evidence. 

This  branch  of  evidence  is  closely  akin  to  that 
from  the  adaptiveness  of  the  Bible,  as  given  in  an 
earlier  paragraph.  Nevertheless  there  is  a  dis- 
tinction to  be  made  between  the  two.  This  evi- 
dence comes  closer  home  to  the  heart  of  individual 
men  and  women.  It  is  unanswerable  within  its 
own  sphere.  Thirsty  men  drink  a  glass  of  pure 
water  and  are  conscious  that  their  burning  thirst 
is  quenched ;  hungry  men,  although  entirely  igno- 
rant of  the  chemical  analysis  of  bread,  eat  thereof 


\mos,  and 
;telling  its 
it  minute. 
;nt.  Tyre 
the  boats 
ad  out  on 
Ined  walls, 

;hese  illus- 
cies  of  the 
nt  as  testi- 
r  own  day. 
xactness  of 
d  the  Bible 
:y  and  his- 
spiration  of 
fulfilments 


ikin  to  that 
given  in  an 
e  is  a  dis- 
This  evi- 
f  individual 
:  within  its 
ass  of  pure 
rning  thirst 
itirely  igno- 
eat  thereof 


IRREFUTABLE  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  BIBLE    409 

and  are  satisfied.     So  we  as  religious  beings  find 
in  the  truth  of  God  satisfaction  to  our  immortal 
needs.     By  faith  we  lay  hold  of  divine  promises, 
and  our  souls'  hunger  and  thirst  are  satisfied.    We 
do  not  prove  the  truth  of  the  Bible  by  metaphysi 
cal  demonstration,  but  by  experimental  knowledge 
in  the  sphere  of  our  religious  nature.     We  then 
sweetly  testify  that  the  satisfaction  of  our  souls, 
with  all  their  spiritual  longings,  is  due  to  the  in- 
fluence of  this  divine  book,  with  all  its  spiritual 
supplies.     We  know  that  two  and  two  make  four ; 
that  is  a  mathematical  certainty.     We  know  that 
hydrogen  and  oxygen  when  related  to  each  other 
in  certain  proportions  make  water ;  that  is  a  sci 
entific  certainty.     We  know  with  equal  certainty 
that  the  truth  of  Christ  and  Him  crucified,  when 
received  into  the  heart,  gives  satisfaction,  peace, 
and  blessedness  to  the  soul.     When  we  believe  on 
Him  we  are  saved,  and  we  know  it  by  proper  tests, 
as  certainly  as  we  know  that  hydrogen  and  oxygen 
produce  water,  and  that  two  and  two  make  four. 
There  are  spiritual  truths  which  can  be  discerned 
only  by  the  spiritually  minded.     Every  science, 
such  as  chemistry,  geology,  and  botany,  has  its  own 
secrets,  and  only  those  who  are  versed  m  these 
sciences  can  really  discover  these  secrets.     Only 
those  who  have  musical  taste  and  trainmg  can 
understand  music  in  its  loftier  ranges  and  deeper 
meanings.     Profound  musical  truths  are  musically 
discerned.     We  have  a  right  to  demand  that  a 


4IO 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


man   shall   have   sufficient   musical   training  and 
taste  before  he  shall  authoritatively  pronounce  on 
musical  matters.     We  have  a  right  to  demand  that 
a  man  shall  have  sufficient  mathematical  knowl 
edge  before  he  shall   attempt   authoritatively   to 
pronounce  on  mathematical  science.     Not  other 
wise  is  it  with  the  Word  of  God.     We  are  dis 
tinctly  told  in  that  word  that  "  he  that  is  spiritual 
judgeth  all  things  "     This  is  a  plain  and  positive 
assertion  of  the  Scripture  itself.     We  are  also  in 
formed  in  that  same  book  that  "  the  secret  of  the 
Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  Him."     Here  is  a 
profound  spiritual  truth;  it  is  equally  a  scientific 
truth,  and  ought  to  have  its  application  in  all  sci- 
entific relations.    Men  cannot  judge  musical,  poeti 
cal,  or  artistic  productions  except  as  they  are  musi 
cally,  poetically,  and   artistically  cultivated.     No 
man  has  a  right  to  make  his  own  ignorance  a 
ground  of  authoritative  assertion.     It   m./j   been 
well  said  that  like  Pascal,  Edwards,  and  Vinet,  the 
believer  on  his  knees  can  see  farther  than  the  phi 
losopher  on  tip  toe.     The  spiritually  minded  man 
in  some  sense  judges  all  things.     The  Lord  Hirn 
self  declared  that  the  Father  had  revealed  great 
spiritual  truths  to  babes,  although  they  were  hid 
den  from  those  who  deemed  themselves  wise  and 
prudent.     Sir  Isaac  Newton  said  to  Dr   Halley, 
a  man  of  science  but  an  unbeliever  in  revelation, 
"  I  am  glad  to  hear  you  speak  about  astronomy  or 
mathematics,  for  you  have  studied  and  you  under- 


ling  and 
•unce  on 
land  that 
I  knowl 
lively  to 
3t  other 

are  dis- 
spi  ritual 

positive 
:  also  in 
et  of  the 
[ere  is  a 
scientific 
in  all  sci- 
cal,  poeti 
are  musi 
ted.     No 
lorance  a 
:i</»  been 
icinet,  the 
1  the  phi 
ided  man 
ord  Hirn 
lied  great 
were  hid 
wise  and 
r   Halley, 
evelation, 
ronomy  or 
ou  under - 


IRREFUTABLE  EVWEf/CES  OF  THE  BIBLE.  4" 

Stand  them;  but  you  should  not  talk  of  Chris- 
tianity, for  you  have  not  studied  it."  Sir  Isaac 
Newton  had  a  right  so  to  speak,  and  Dr  Halley 
doubtless  felt  the  propriety  of  this  criterion  of 

judgment. 

Even  a  man  like  Rousseau  was  obliged  to  con- 
fess that  the  majesty  of  the  Scripture  struck  him 
with  admiration,  and  the  purity  of  the  gospels 
deeply  moved  his  heart.     He  affirms  that  "  It  is 
impossible  that  a  book  at  once  so  simple  and  so 
sublime  should  be  merely  the  work  of  man.  .  .  . 
What  sweetness!     What  purity!     What  sublimity 
in  the  maxims  of  the  sacred  personage  whose  name 
it  records!     Where  is  the  man,  where  the  philos- 
opher, who  can  so  live  and  so  die,  without  weak 
ness  and  without  ostentation?     If  the  life  and 
death  of  Socrates  were  those  of  a  sage,  the  life  and 
death  of  Jesus  were  those  of  a  God. " 

All  who  have  tasted  and  who  have  seen  that  the 
Lord  is  good  give  their  unqualified  testimony  to 
the  divine  seal  that  is  thus  upon  the  pages  of  this 
blessed  book. 

Moral  Evidence. 

This  kind  of  evidence  is  closely  related  to  the 
experimental  evidence  of  which  mention  has  just 
been  made;  but  this  carries  us  to  a  higher  point 
still  in  our  affirmations  regarding  the  holy  book. 
The  Bible  is  written  in  the  style  of  God's  book 
of  nature  and  providence.    False  religions  are 


4»* 


THE  Ol.n  BOOK. 


founded  on  darkness  and  superstition ;  but  God  is 
light,  and  that  light  shines  on  every  page  in  His 
blessed  book.     There   is   a   moral   power  in  the 
Scripture  which  controls  men  in  every  social  con 
dition  and  every  degree  of   intellectual  culture. 
Whether  this  book  goes  into  civilized  countries  or 
among  barbarous  tribes,  whether  into  the  palaces 
of  royalty  or  the  cottages  of  poverty,  it  manifests 
its  power  as  from  God      In  every  age  it  has  con 
quered  the  native  enmity  of  the  human  heart ;  it 
has  purified  the  most  wicked  lives,  and  has  made 
them  radiant  with  heavenly  light,  and  beautiful 
with  Christian  love.     The  history  of  the  Christian 
Church  is  a  history  of  the  triumphs  of  the  Bible 
over  the  sins  of  men      Countless  thousands  are  in 
glory  today  who  were  redeemed  by  the  power  of 
Bible  truths  learned  from  its  holy  pages  and  ener- 
gized by  the  Spirit  of  God      The  truths  of  this 
book  are  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation  unto 
every  one  that  believeth      There  is  no  heart  so 
hard  that  it  cannot  soften,  no  life  so  black  that  it 
cannot  whiten,  and  no  sinner  so  lost  that  it  cannot 
redeem  with  a  great  salvation. 

It  not  only  depicts  men's  sins  in  all  their  black- 
ness and  darkness,  but  it  makes  known  the  remedy 
for  sin  in  all  its  beauty  and  power.  It  nowhere 
approves  the  sins  which  it  often  describes.  It 
plainly  rebukes  the  sins  of  its  greatest  heroes 
and  Its  recognized  saints.  It  declares  that,  "  Thy 
word  is  very  pure ;  the  righteousness  of  Thy  tes- 


t  God  is 
;e  in  His 
ir  in  the 
)cial  con 

culture, 
intries  or 
e  palaces 
manifests 

has  con 
heart;  it 
has  made 
beautiful 
Christian 
the  Bible 
ids  are  in 

power  of 
and  ener- 
is  of  this 
tion  unto 

heart  so 
;k  that  it 

it  cannot 

eir  black- 
lie  remedy 
t  nowhere 
ribes.  It 
ist  heroes 
tiat,  "  Thy 
Thy  tes- 


IRRRFUTAHI.F.  EVIDENCES  OF  THE  lUnLE,  4'3 

timonies  is  everliist  ng;  Thy  law  is  tlie  truth." 
The  apostle  Paul  af!  rms  of  the  Gospel  which  this 
b(K)k  reveals,  that  "  the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth 
salvation  hath  appeared  to  all  men,  teaching  us 
that  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts,  we 
should  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  in  this 
present  world." 

Let  us  then  judge  the  Bible  by  its  fruits.     Are 
those  fruits  imi.ioral?     What  other  book  has  ever 
placed  before  the  race  so  excellent  a  standard? 
What  other  book  has  ever  given  the  race  moral 
power  to  realize  the  lofty  standard  it  has  erected? 
Where  else  in  the  world  can  you  find  character  so 
unselfish,  so  pure,  just,  noble,  manly,  and  divine, 
as  that  created  by  the  teaching  of  God's  Word? 
Not  from  those  who  obey  its  truths  do  our  crimi 
nalscome;  not  from  those  who  love  its  precepts 
do  the  guilty  who  are  condemned  in  our  courts  find 
their  recruits.     If  all  men  obeyed  its  precepts,  our 
prisons  and  our  almshouses  alike  would  soon  be 
nearly  or  entirely  empty.     Our  magistrates  and 
police  officers  might  be  dismissed,  and  our  whole 
people  would  be  intelligent,  industrious,  moral, 
and  noble.     We  may  well  ask  the  question  which 
Linquet,  the  able  French  writer,  once  asked  of  Vol- 
taire, and  we  may  ask  it  of  others  who  deny  the 
divinity  of  this  holy  book :   "  Will  you  dare  to 
assert  that  it  is  in  philosophic  families  we  are  to 
look  for  models  of  filial  respect,  conjugal  love,  sin- 
cerity in  friendship,  or  fidelity  among  domestics? 


414 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


Were  you  disposed  to  do  so,  would  not  your  own 
conscience,  your  own  experience,  suppress  tiie 
falsehood,  even  before  your  lips  could  utter  it  ?  " 

Here  we  take  our  stand.  We  defy  the  world 
to  refute  the  evidence  of  the  divine  origin  of  this 
holy  book.  The  strongest  thinkers  are  its  stu 
dents ;  the  noblest  men  of  all  the  ages  indorse  its 
precepts,  and  reproduce  them  in  their  daily  lives. 
It  is  true  to-day  as  when  the  apostle  Peter  wrote 
the  words,  "  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  thereof 
fadeth  away,  but  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth 
forever." 


;  your  own 
)press  the 
tterit?" 
the  world 
;in  of  this 
-e  its  stu 
indorse  its 
Jaily  lives, 
'eter  wrote 
ver  thereof 
I  endureth 


Tl 


THE    APPROPRIATE    STUDY    OF    THE 
BIBLE. 


XXIV. 

The  Appropriate  Study  of  the  Bible. 

We  have  now  reached  the  last  chapter  in  our 
studies  on  the  "  Old  Book."  The  following  lines 
—which  appear  also  on  the  title-page  of  this  vol- 
ume, and  which  were  found  on  the  fly-leaf  of  a 
Bible  in  one  of  our  great  hotels,  written  by  an  un- 
known guest— well  express  the  deepest  thought  of 
all  true  students  of  the  Bible : 

"  O  holy,  holy  Book  of  God  1 

There  are  no  words  like  thine ; 
The  tones  that  angels  bow  to  hear 

Breathe  through  these  lines  divine  ; 
And  come,  with  love's  own  melody, 
From  the  King's  heart  to  mine." 

How  shall  we  best  study  'his  "holy  Book  of 

God  "-? 

We  readily  see  that  it  is  of  very  great  impor- 
tance that  we  should  have  correct  conceptions  of 
the  duty  and  privilege  of  becoming  earnest  stu- 
dents of  the  Bible;  and  it  is  ?lso  important  that 
we  adopt  appropriate  methods  in  the  study  of  this 
book.  Unfortunately  many  persons  study  it  but 
little;  and  sometimes  its  imperfect  students  seem 
to  consider  their  ignorance  of  the  book  as  giving 

87 


1 1 
ii 


r 


418 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


them  special  authority  to  pronounce  against  its 
teachings.  The  ignorance  of  many  of  its  critics 
would  be  laughable  were  it  not  culpable.  Daniel 
Webster  tells  us  that  when  he  was  in  Paris  he 
received  an  account  of  a  French  infidel  who  acci- 
dentally found  some  stray  leaves  of  an  unknown 
volume.  Although  in  the  constant  habit  of  de- 
nouncing the  Bible,  like  most  infidel  writers,  he 
had  never  carefully  read  any  considerable  part  of 
it.  The  fugitive  leaves  which  this  infidel  found 
contained  the  sublime  prayer  of  Habakkuk,  as 
found  in  the  third  chapter  of  the  book  bearing 
his  name.  This  infidel  was  a  man  of  fine  literary 
taste,  and  he  was  captivated  by  the  poetic  beauty 
of  the  literature  he  had  found.  He  hastened,  as 
Mr.  Webster  tells  us,  to  the  club-house  to  an- 
nounce the  discovery  to  his  associates.  They 
with  him  were  charmed  by  the  sublime  words 
they  read.  They  were  anxious  to  know  the  name 
of  the  gifted  author.  The  elated  discoverer  of 
these  leaves  replied,  "  A  writer  by  the  name  of 
Hab-ba-kook, — of  course  a  Frenchman!"  The 
surprise  of  all,  it  can  readily  be  imagined,  was  as 
great  as  their  chagrin  was  complete  when  they 
were  informed  that  the  passage  they  so  enthusias- 
tically admired  was  not  written  by  one  of  their 
own  countrymen,  but  by  one  of  God's  ancient 
prophets,  and  was  contained  in  the  Bible,  the  book 
they  affected  to  despise.  Mr.  Webster  adds :  "  This 
I  regard  as  one  of  the  sublimest  passages  of  in- 


against  its 
:  its  critics 
le.  Daniel 
in  Paris  he 
i\  who  acci- 
in  unknown 
abit  of  de- 
writers,  he 
.ble  part  of 
ifidel  found 
ibakkuk,  as 
)ok  bearing 
fine  literary 
Detic  beauty 
hastened,  as 
ouse  to  an- 
tes. They 
>lime  words 
iw  the  name 
iscoverer  of 
he  name  of 
an!"  The 
ned,  was  as 
when  they 
o  enthusias- 
)ne  of  their 
)d's  ancient 
)le,  the  book 
idds:"This 
sages  of  in- 


APPROPRIATE  STUDY  OF  THE  BlHl.E. 


419 


.pired  literature,  and  often  have  I  wondered  that 
some  artist  equal  to  the  task  has  not  selected  the 
prophecy  and  the  scene  described  as  the  subject 

of  a  painting." 

It  is  difficult  to  lay  down  rules  for  the  proper 
study  of  the  Word  of  God ;  some  suggestions,  how- 
ever, may  be  made  in  that  line. 

The  Bible  should  be  read  constantly.     Unfortu 
nately   many   persons  read   it   but  seldom.     All 
should  be  urged  to  possess  a  Bible  -one  of  the 
best  procurable  copies  of  the  sacred  book.     These 
copies  are  now  prepared  with  helps  of  the  most 
valuable  kind,  giving  the  result  of  prolonged  and 
profound  study  in  many  useful  lines,  and  the  entire 
book  is  offered  at  a  remarkably  low  price.     It  is 
cause  for  gratitude  that  this  book  of  books,  with 
all  the  helps  suggested,  can  be  procured  at  so  low 
a  figure     All  men  and  women  ought  to  have  a 
Bible  of  their  own.     We  never  can  get  out  of  a 
Bible  that  is  not  our  own  the  instruction  and  in- 
spiration which  would  be  ours  were  the  book  our 
personal  property.     The  Bible  not  only  gives  us 
spiritual  food,  but   intellectual  aliment  as  well. 
Its  daily  supply  is  as  needful  for  the  sustenance 
of  the  soul  as  is  the  daily  supply  of  food  for  the 
support  of  the  body.    The  leanness  of  many  Chris- 
tians is  due,  in  very  considerable  part,  to  the  fact 
that  they  do  not  feed  upon  this  food  divine.     Many 
seldom  read  the  Bible,  even  on  the  Lord's  day.  al- 
though with  some  it  is  a  Sunday  book  and  nothing. 


^20  THE  OLD  BOOK. 

more.     They  then  read  but  a  chapter  or  two,  and 
the  book  is  laid  away  until  the  next  Sunday.     It 
should  be  read  daily;  it  should  be  our  constant 
counsellor  and  inspirer.     The  noblest  souls  have 
ever  drunk  freely  from  this  divine  fountain  of 
spiritual  life  and  power.     No  man  is  so  situated 
but  that  he  might  study  the  Scriptures  were  he 
so  disposed.     We  must  urge,  with  all  earnestness 
and  solemnity,  the  daily  reading  of  this  blessed 
book.     Every  day  we  ought  to  get  here  our  supply 
of  manna,  as  God's  ancient  people  secured  it  regu- 
larly day  by  day.     We  might  well,  as  soon  as  op- 
portunity permits,  set  aside  a  portion  of  time  each 
day  for  Bible  reading  and  prayer.     Better  only 
glance  at  the  daily  newspaper,  and  carefully  study 
the  Bible,  than  the  reverse.     It  will  well  repay  us 
to  take  time  for  this  purpose.     There  is  an  old 
proverb  that  no  traveller  is  ever  detained  on  his 
journey  by  stopping   for  needed  food  and  rest. 
Many  busy  men  and  women  can  bear  ample  testi- 
mony to  the  value  of  careful  study  of  God's  Word 
amid  their  hurried  domestic  duties  and  pressing 
business  vocations.     We  ought  all  to  follow  the 
example  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  to  whom  refer- 
ence has  already  been  made. 

The  Bible  ought  also  to  be  read  consecutively. 
We  study  it  too  much  after  the  hop,  skip,  and 
jump  method.  Our  perusal  of  this  holy  book  is 
scrappy,  disconnected,  and  so  often  unmcanmg. 
We  ought  sometimes  to  study  it,  reading  large 


APPROPRIATE  STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE.      421 


two,  and 
iday.     It 

constant 
)uls  have 
mtain  of 
)  situated 

were  he 
rnestness 
s  blessed 
ur  supply 
d  it  regu- 
lon  as  op- 
time  each 
etter  only 
uUy  study 
1  repay  us 

is  an  old 
led  on  his 

and  rest, 
mple  testi- 
iod's  Word 
d  pressing 
follow  the 
hom  refer- 

nsecutively. 
p,  skip,  and 
oly  book  is 
unmeaning, 
ading  large 


portions  at  a  single  sitting.  Indeed,  whole  books 
migj'ht  in  this  way  be  read  and  mastered.  Were 
we  to  read  chapters  of  history  in  Macaulay,  Green, 
or  McMaster  as  we  read  the  Bible,  we  would  make 
these  chapters  largely  meaningless;  were  we  to 
read  the  plays  of  Shakespeare  or  the  poems  of 
Tennyson  and  Longfellow  as  we  read  the  Bible, 
ttre  should  destroy  the  continuity  of  their  thought, 
and  rob  them  alike  of  practical  meaning  and  poetic 
beauty.  We  ought  to  take  such  a  portion  of  the 
Bible  as  the  book  of  Job,  and  read  it  from  its  first 
word  to  its  last,  mingling  meditation  and  prayer 
with  the  reading,  before  we  have  risen  from  the 
inspiring  task.  We  should  then  get  a  deeper  in- 
terest in  all  portions  of  the  holy  word,  and  we 
should  get  a  connected  view  of  part  with  part.  No 
man  can  judge  a  rose  by  a  single  petal,  nor  a  tree 
by  a  leaf ;  neither  ought  we  to  judge  a  book  of  the 
Bible  by  one  chapter,  nor  the  whole  Bible  by  one 
book. 

The  late  Adolphe  Monod  tells  us  that  when  in 
a  season  of  painful  affliction  he  had  a  young  man 
read  to  him  from  the  Word  of  God ;  and  how  he  was 
not  satisfied  with  the  reading  of  the  eighth  chapter 
of  the  epistle  to  the  Romans  until  the  fifth,  sixth, 
and  seventh  chapters  had  also  been  read,  that  he 
might  fully  appreciate  the  drift  of  the  argument ; 
then  he  needed  also  the  ninth  and  the  following 
chapters  to  the  end  of  the  epistle ;  and  in  order 
that  he  might  lose  nothing  he  insisted  on  reading 


4" 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


also  the  first  four  chapters  of  the  epistle.     Con- 
secutive  reading  is  of  the  highest  possible  impor- 
tance      It  is  impossible  unduly  to  emphasize  the 
value  of  this  practice.     Many  read  merely  m  a 
routine  manner,  not  really  reading  the  Bible,  but 
simply  reading  a  certain  number  of  chapters  daily 
or  weekly      There  may  also  be  a  merely  formal 
reading  which  has  in  it  somewhat  of  the  super- 
stitious clement,  as  a  man  gallops  through  the 
reading  of  a  prayer  before  he  hurries  off  to  his 
business      This  spasmodic  and  periodic  reading 
will  never  enable  us  to  get  the  heart  and  soul  out 
of  the  blessed  book,  as  we  should  discover  both 
did  we  read  consecutively,  meditatively,  and  pray- 
erfully .  , 
This  leads  to  the  statement  that  the  Bible  should 
be  read  comprehensively.     Each  part  sustains,  as 
we  have  already  seen,  relations  to  all  other  parts 
Even  the  long  genealogical   tables  and   lists  of 
names,  such  as  are  found  in  the  books  of  Num- 
bers, Chronicles,  and  Ezra,  have  their  significance. 
Some  of  these  tables  stand  related  to  the  priv- 
ileges of  birthrights,  and  even  to  the  royal  lineage 
of  the  Christ.     Much  will  be  gained  in  reading 
the  so  called  dry  parts,  such  as  the  minute  cere^ 
monial  laws  in  the  book  of  Leviticus      Although 
the  mind  may  not  retain  all  these  details  in  then- 
completeness,  there  will  be  value  in  their  careful 
study  as  we  come  to  meditate  on  other  portions 
of  the  holy  book.     It  will  be  worth  much  if  we 


Con- 
•  impor- 
size  the 
ly  in  a 
ble,  but 
;rs  daily 
y  formal 
e  super- 
ugh  the 
[f  to  his 
reading 
soul  out 
ver  both 
,nd  pray- 

le  should 
stains,  as 
lier  parts, 
lists  of 
of  Num- 
nificance. 
the  priv- 
al  lineage 
n  reading 
lUte  cere- 
Although 
Is  in  their 
jir  careful 
r  portions 
luch  if  we 


AP PROPRIA  TE  STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE        4^3 

simply  memorize  one  verse  each  day.  If  we  think 
for  a  moment  we  shall  see  what  a  gain  it  would  be 
did  we  master  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  verses 
in  each  year  of  our  lives.  In  a  very  little  time  we 
should  become  wonderfully  conversant  with  the 
matchless  book.  We  should  be  walking  commen- 
taries on  all  parts  of  the  holy  Scripture. 

Should  we  study  the  Bible  topically?  This 
method  of  study  has  been  strongly  indorsed  by 
Dwight  L.  Moody,  and  by  other  evangelists  and 
expounders  of  the  Bible.  It  is  conceivable  that 
at  times  at  least  this  method  may  be  profitably 
pursued.  The  idea  of  this  method  is  to  take  up 
a  subject  and  follow  it  through  the  entire  Bible. 
The  word  faith  may  be  taken  up  and  followed  in 
this  method,  using  the  aid  of  a  concordance  and 
a  reference  Bible.  This  word  fills  about  two  col- 
umns in  Cruden's  Concordance;  this  fact  alone 
shows  what  a  prominent  place  it  has  on  the  pages 
of  sacred  Scripture.  Then  such  a  word  as  grace 
might  be  taken  up  and  followed  through  the  Bible 
in  a  similar  manner.  Mr.  Moody  calls  attention 
to  the  wonderful  influence  upon  his  own  mind  of 
this  method  of  study  in  respect  to  this  word  grace. 
The  word  love  in  its  height,  depth,  breadth,  and 
length  might  also  be  studied  along  this  same  line. 
And  so  with  the  words  repentance,  righteousness, 
and  other  similarly  expressive  words.  This  method 
might  be  very  greatly  enlarged,  and  praise,  com- 
mand and  warning  or  example  might  be  the  sub- 


424 


THE  01. n  IWOK. 


ject  of  careful  study.     Such  commands  as  "  Arise," 
"  Be  of  good  cheer,"  "  Fear  not,"  "  Follow  Me, ' 
and  others  of  a  similar  character  might  thus  be 
studied ;  or  the  "  great "  things  of  the  Bible  might 
be  studied  in  a  similar  way.     There  is,  however, 
danger  in  this  method  of  Bible  study.     Sometimes 
one  word  in  the  original  Hebrew  or  Greek  is  ren- 
dered in  our  common  version  by  two  or  three  or 
possibly  more  words.     In  selecting,  therefore,  the 
one  word  from  our  version,  we  should  be  misled 
as  to  the  original  word,  and  so  misled  as  to  the 
mind  of  the  Spirit.     There  is  danger  thus  that  we 
should  make  unwise   generalizations   and   unfair 
qualifications  of  the  original  thought  of  the  Spirit 
of  God.     But  this  method  wisely  pursued,  and  of 
course   within   proper   limits,  may  be   made  ex- 
tremely profitable  to  any  judicious  student  of  the 
sacred  Scriptures. 

We  are  also  to  study  the  Bible  personally.    This 
thought  is  of  great  practical  value.    Unfortunately 
we  too  often  think  of  Bible  truths  as  spoken  so 
long  ago  as  to  have  lost  their  original  meaning, 
and  to  be  spoken  to  so  many  as  to  have  no  per- 
sonal application.     We  gain  much  when  we  learn 
that  God's  truth  is  spoken  to  us  as  if  we  were  the 
only  persons  in  the  universe.    The  Bible  is  indeed 
a  great  storehouse  of  truth  for  all  the  world,  but 
it  is,  so  far  as  we  are  concerned,  a  treasury  filled 
with  messages  addressed  to  us.     It  is  God's  mes- 
sage  to   each   reader,  and   to  each  human  soul. 


\nse," 
V  Me," 
hu9  be 
:  might 
jwever, 
letimes 
is  ren- 
hree  or 
are,  the 
misled 

to  the 
that  we 

unfair 
e  Spirit 
,  and  of 
ade  ex- 
:  of  the 

V.  This 
tunately 
oken  so 
leaning, 
I  no  per- 
we  learn 
were  the 
s  indeed 
orld,  but 
iry  filled 
•d's  mes- 
an  soul. 


AfiPkOflitATE  STVDV  OF  THE  litBLE,      4*5 

Christ  died  for  the  whole  world  because  He  tasted 
death  for  every  man.  We  are  to  appropriate  the 
great  truths  of  God's  book  as  if  they  were  spoken 
lo  us  alone.  Every  plant  and  flower  and  shrub 
and  tree  can  look  up  to  the  sun  and  say,  "  O  sun, 
thou  art  all  mine !"  Each  plant,  however  little, 
has  all  the  sun  to  itself,  as  if  there  was  nothing 
in  the  world  but  this  plant.  So  each  soul  has  all 
of  God's  truth,  and  of  God  Himself,  as  if  there 
were  no  other  soul  in  all  the  universe.  In  fact, 
God's  Word  talks  to  each  man  alone,  impressing 
its  solemn  warnings,  inspiring  with  its  gracious 
promises,  and  ennobling  with  its  heavenly  bless- 
ings. 

The  Bible  also  is  to  be  read  lovingly.  We  never 
shall  understand  its  deep  meaning  except  we  be  in 
sympathy  with  its  spirit.  No  child  can  fully  un- 
derstand the  meaning  of  a  father's  letter  except 
he  knows  something  of  that  father's  heart,  and  is 
in  sympathy  with  that  father's  thought  and  wish. 
We  have  only  to  remember  how  much  more  mean- 
ing the  twenty-third  psalm,  the  fourteenth  chapter 
of  the  gospel  of  John,  or  the  fifty-third  chapter  of 
Isaiah  would  have,  were  we  in  hearty  sympathy 
with  the  great  spiritual  truths  contained  in  these 
precious  portions  of  God's  book.  Indeed,  it  is 
impossible  for  us  to  get  at  the  heart  meaning 
except  our  own  heart  be  in  sympathy  with  that 
meaning.  The  text,  "  The  just  shall  live  by  faith," 
gave  light  and  comfort  to  Luther  as  he  lay  sick  i  ii 


4^6 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


his  bed  at  Bologna,  and  afterward  it  unloosed  the 
shackles  of  Roman  superstition  from  his  soul  as 
it  came  to  his  mind  while  he  was  going  on  his 
kneees  up  the  so-called  staircase  of  Pilate.     It  is 
most  interesting  to  study  the  effect  of  certain  pas- 
sages upon  many  of  God's  heroes  and  heroines. 
••  Yet  there  is  room,"  came  to  John  Bunyan  with 
all  the  light  and  life  of  God,  and  gave  him  hope 
in  his  time  of  deepest  spiritual  depression.    "  Look 
unto  Me  and  be  ye  saved,  for  I  am  God  and  there 
is  none  else,"  was  the  blessed  command  and  assur- 
ance that  came  to  Spurgeon  through  the  lips  of  the 
humble  Methodist  minister  who  was  the  means  of 
leading  him  into  the  kingdom  of  God.     Only  as 
these  passages  of   Scripture  are  translated  into 
personal  experience  do  they  acquire  their  power. 
"  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ,  His  Son,  cleanseth  us 
from  all  sin,"  was  the  verse  that  arrested  the 
thought  and  comforted  the  heart  of  Captain  Hed- 
ley  Vicars,  as  he  carelessly  turned  over  the  pages 
of  a  Bible  when  in  Canada,  in  November,  185 1, 
waiting  the  arrival  of  a  brother- officer.    That  verse 
changed  his  life.     He  determined  at  that  moment 
to  live  as  a  man  ought  who  was  washed  in  that  pre- 
cious blood;  and  from  that  hour  until  he  poured 
out  his  life  blood  for  his  country  and  his  queen,  he 
was  a  loyal  servant  of  his  Lord  and  Master  Jesus 
Christ.      The  precious  promises  of  God's  Word 
must  become  tried  and  proved  before  their  full 
meaning  can  really  become  our  own.    Henry  Ward 


FS..jT«^-.mj!«»f-.)B4--a:»>»»a-ga»y*S"'*'-«'-«^»6 


•d  the 
3ul  as 
)n  his 
It  is 
n  pas- 
oines. 
n  with 
n  hope 
'  Look 
there 
assur- 
of  the 
:ans  of 
)nly  as 
:d  into 
power, 
seth  us 
ed   the 
tiHed- 
!  pages 
,  1851, 
It  verse 
noment 
lat  pre- 
poured 
leen,  he 
;r  Jesus 
i  Word 
eir  full 
ry  Ward 


APPkOPRlA  TE  STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE,      H'? 

Beecher  well  said  that :  "  To  come  to  the  Bible 
through  the  commentaries  is  much  like  looking 
through  a  landscape  through  garret  windows  over 
which  unmolested  spiders  have  spun  their  webs. " 
The  Scripture  must  be  found,  eaten,  masticated, 
and  digested  by  us  before  it  can  really  become  a 
part  of  body,  mind,  and  heart.       Robert   Boyle 
said,  "  I  use  the  Scripture  not  as  an  arsenal  to 
be  resorted  to  only  for  arms  and  weapons,  but  as  a 
matchless  temple  where  I  delight  to  contemplate 
the  beauty  and  symmetry,  the  magnificence  of  the 
structure,  and  to  increase  my  awe  and  excite  my  ' 
devotion  to  the  Deity  there  preached  and  adored." 
We  must,  like  the  Psalmist,  hide  God's  word  in 
our  heart,  that  we  may  not  sin  against  Him;  this 
will  be  putting  the  best  thing— God's  Word— in 
the  best  place — our  heart — for  the  best  purpose — 
that  we  may  not  sin.     The  Bible  should  be  stud- 
ied with  our  heart  as  well  as  with  our  head.     We 
are  to  grow  in  love  as  well  as  in  knowledge.     We 
are  to  secure  spiritual  comfort  as  well  as  intel- 
lectual knowledge  from  the  pages  of  God's  holy 
book. 

We  are  also  to  study  the  Bible  prayerfully. 
Only  as  we  look  up  to  God  who  gave  us  this  book 
through  holy  men  of  old  can  we  rightly  under- 
stand the  words  He  has  written.  He  studies  well 
who  prays  well.  Prayer  stimulates  all  the  intel- 
lectual faculties  as  well  as  all  the  spiritual  activi- 
ties.    In  the  book  of  Revelation,  the  book  of  the 


438 


THE  OLD  BOOK 


vision  was  closeJ  with  seven  seals,  and  only  one 
out  of  all  the  earth  or  in  heaven  was  able  to  break 
the  seals  and  read  the  scroll.     That  One  is  He 
who  is  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah  and  the 
Lamb  of  God.     To  this  hour,  and  in  every  human 
experience,  the  Master  must  still  break  the  seal 
or  the  deepest  meaning  of  the  volume  will  not  be 
understood.     The  best  scholarship  will  not  enable 
us  to  understand  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  except 
that  scholarship  be   energized  and  sanctified  by 
prayer  for  heavenly  enlightenment.     Scholarship 
*  is  only  a  telescope.     Even  after  this  telescope  is 
adjusted  to  the  eye,  and  all  parts  of  physical  vision 
are  provided,  the  beauty  of  the  heavens  will  not 
be  rightly  interpreted  except  as  heavenly  wisdom 
is  bestowed.     We  may  be  the  most  learned  and 
zealous  students  of  the  Bible;  we  may  bring  to  it 
gr^at  Biblical  lore;  we  may  be  able  to  expatiate 
with  the  eloquence  of  a  Paul  on  its  transcendent 
themes,  but  it  will  be  to  us  in  its  deep  spiritual 
meaning  a  sealed  book  except  as  it  is  opened  to 
us  by  the  Spirit  of  God  invoked  by  our  earnest 
prayers.     Well  may  each  one  of  us  pray  as  did 
Milton,  that  immortal  blind  bard  of  a  heroic  era, 
the  sublime  singer  of  a  glorious  epoch : 

"  Celestial  Light, 
Shine  inward,  and  the  mind  through  all  her  powers 
Irradiate ;  there  plant  eyes,  all  mist  from  thence 
Purge  and  disperse,  that  I  may  tell 
Of  things  invisible  to  mortal  sight." 


..  «talh«s? -.4.7*51  *-^A' • - 


■Tj^^np,--.  .,<*->J»ii'iV*=*!'-'v=' 


only  one 
to  break 
ne  is  He 
and  the 
ry  human 
the  seal 
ill  not  be 
lot  enable 
rit  except 
:tified  by 
iholarship 
iescope  is 
ical  vision 
s  will  not 
ly  wisdom 
arned  and 
bring  to  it 
(  expatiate 
mscendent 
p  spiritual 
opened  to 
lur  earnest 
>ray  as  did 
heroic  era, 


powers 
lence 


A P PROPRIA  TR  STUDY  OF  THE  BIBLE.      429 

We  are  told  that  when  Archibshop  Usher  grew 
old,  and  the  strongest  glasses  gave  but  little  help 
to  his  failing  sight,  and  he  was  unable  to  read  any 
book  except  in  the  strongest  light,  he  would  then 
sit  where  the  sunshine  came  upon  him  in  its  full- 
est strength;  and  when  that  sunshine  flitted  to 
another  window  he  would  place  himself  again  un- 
der its  brilliant  rays ;  and  so  he  moved  from  place 
to  place,  continuing  his  studies  until  the  sun  had 
set.  It  is  tru'='  of  us  that  we  can  understand  the 
Scriptuies  only  as  an  answer  to  our  prayer,  in  har- 
mony with  our  meditation,  and  in  line  with  our 
whole  spiritual  attitude.  God  pours  the  radiance 
ci  His  Spirit  on  the  sacred  page.  Then  and  only 
then  can  we  get  the  spiritual  meaning  of  the  words 
which  our  Father  who  is  a  Spirit  has  communi- 
cated to  us  His  children. 

The  Bible  is  also  to  be  studied  reverently.     The 

spirit  of  prayer  just  commended  will  produce  the 

reverence  which  ought  to  be  inseparable  from  all 

study  of  the  great  book.    Too  often  iv  is  made  the 

subject  of  most  reprehensible  jesting.    Many  parts 

of  the  Bible  have  been  robbed  of  much  of  their 

meaning  because  they  have  given  point  to  vulgar 

jokes  and  gross  conundrums.     Such  treatment  of 

God's  book  is  unworthy  the  practice  or  e\'en  the 

partial  indorsement  of  any  truly  devout  student. 

It  is  difficult  to  speak  with  patience  of  those  who 

•    profess  to  be  devoted  believers,  and  who  are  guilty 

of  treating  the  Bible  in  this  fashion.     A  simi- 


436 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


lar  remark  applies  to  many  of  our  most  spiritual 
hvmr     They  have  been  used  simply  to  pomt 
•ores  and  to  e'xcite  the  laughter  of  unbelievers  or 
of  utterly  thoughtless  persons  though  nommal  be- 
lLv"rs      We  do  not  at  all  advocate  any  super sti- 
s  feeling  regarding  the  Word  of  God.  but  we  do 
ad^cat^^^^^^^^^^^       it  with  the  reverence  becommg 
a   etter  directed  to  us  from  our  Father  in  heaven^ 
Many  have  treated  it  with  a  degree  of  disrespec 
fn  this  regard  which  they  would  not  for  a  momen 
think  of  giving  to  a  letter  from  an  absent  parent 
or  other  earthly  friend. 

If  we  study  the  Bible  thus  reverently  we  shall 
always  be  studying  it  spiritually,  and  thus  at  the 
sle  ime  we  si.all  be  studying  it  understandmgly. 
M:ditation  goes  with  P-y-^ ul  and  re-^^^^^^^^^ 
and  thus  spiritual  things  are  spiritually  discerned 
by  the   spiritually  minded   student   of   the  holy 

^°?he  Bible  must  also  be  studied  ohediently.    This 

really  is  one  of  the  most  important  elements  of  is 
dy  to  which  we  have  thus  {-adverted     Thi 

is  the  practical  point  toward  which  all  Bible  study 
UuM^tend;  this  is  the  climaxof  all  our  ex^mui. 

tion  and  effort.  Indeed,  only  as  we  are  obedient  to 
he  command  of  God's  Spirit  can  -  -derf  "d 
he  meaning  of  that  Spirit.  The  Lord  Himse  f  h 
clearly  taught  us  that  only  those  who  do  the  wxU 
:rGod  can  really  understand  that  wiU.  « 
is  more  pernicious  than  the  reading  of  pathetic 


r«*>*««.3M  ■» --»^  f A^«^' 


^,.,4**i»^--*i»«^'*"-~*-''-'''^-''''  ■■ 


n,«M.»it>««»'' 


iritual 
point 
ers,  or 
lal  be- 
ipersti- 
t  wedo 
coming 
deaven. 
respect 
Tioment 
t  parent 

ve  shall 
s  at  the 
ndingly. 
It  study, 
liscerned 
:he  holy 

fy.    This 
nts  of  its 
:d.     This 
ble  study 
examina- 
jedient  to 
nderstand 
imself  has 
.0  the  will 
Nothing 
f  pathetic 


AP PROPRIA  TE  S7  'JIjY  OF  THE  BIBLE.       43 » 

books,  which    profoundly  stir  our  emotions,  but 
which  lead  us  to  no  action  corresponding  to  the 
emotions  thus  deeply  stirred.    Many  kinds  of  novel- 
reading  thus  tend  to  blunt  all  true  sympathy  and 
to  prevent  practical  sympathetic  action.     Reading 
of  that  character  becomes  a  great  injury  to  our 
physical  and  spiritual  nature.     So  the  reading  and 
study  of  God's  Word  not  accompanied  by  obedience 
to  God's  commands  will  tend  to  harden  our  hearts 
and  to  ossify  and  even  to  petrify  our  moral  natures. 
All  true  study  should  result  in  obedient  service  to 
God  and  man.    The  Bible  itself  expresses  profound 
wisdom  when  it  says :  "  Be  ye  doers  and  not  hear- 
ers only  of  the  word."     And  Christ  set  us  a  noble 
example  '.   vi  He  affirmed,  "I  have  finished  the 
work  whj'-^       ■:    I  gavest  me  to  do."     We  should 
practise..;         i^e  fully.     We  must  remember  that 
all  Scripture  is  practical      We  are  not  to  pick  and 
choose  among  God's  commandments.     Doing  the 
truth  is  the  only  way  of  really  believing  the  truth. 
We  are  to  see  light  in  God's  light.     We  are  to 
study  the  Bible  on  our  knees,  and  then  we  are 
to  rise  and  practise  the  truths  we  have  learned. 
"  Let  us  then, "  in  the  words  of  Dr.  George  Dana 
Boardman,  "  study  the  Bible  with  the  sincere  and 
ardent  purpose  of  executing  our  Father's  will  as 
He  shall  reveal  it  to  us      Then  will  He  station 
us  on  the  Delectable  Mountains  of  the  immortal 
Dreamer ;  and  ever  anu  anon  our  ears  shall  catch 
clearer  and  clearer  echoes  of  the  angelic  music,  and 


432 


THE  OLD  BOOK. 


our  eyes  command  a  more  magnificent  sweep  of  the 
glories  of  the  celestial  Canaan." 

»  Blessed  Lord,  who  hast  caused  all  holy  Scrip- 
tures to  be  written  for  our  learning,  grant  that 
we  may  in  such  wise  hear  them,  read,  mark,  learn 
and  inwardly  digest  them,  that  by  patience  and 
comfort  of  Thy  holy  word  we  may  embrace  and 
ever  hold  fast  the  blessed  hope  of  immortal  life 
which  Thou  hast  given  us  in  our  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.     Amen." 


^t^»_  .^TM^.'  :-t^f«i^i*see*«MW='S^-'--''="- 


.--^^^..^•.r-JH>^.^*l^-' 


f  the 


*^,3»»rt<i*«('^* 


( 


...... ^ggu^i^t.r.     •-■       -  ;  --;^..^w.^^^.^,..^^^^.^.-i^.-.-^i..^'^^  0.i.4»ii- 


